One Family’s Journey to ‘Four at Fox’

For Cornelia Seigneur – mother of five and proud parent of four George Fox graduates – the idea of starting with the end in mind is more than a wise adage. It is a guiding principle that has shaped her life as an educator, mentor, writer, and mom – and now, “Omi.”

“One of the parenting ideas I write about is the importance of surrounding yourself with people who are motivated and on a similar path of faith and working hard toward something bigger,” she says. “That kind of environment is exactly what George Fox offers.”

And this isn’t secondhand information. Seigneur experienced George Fox's unique educational environment in 2008 as an adjunct professor of public relations, and again in 2014 as the director of the Faith & Culture Writers Conference, held on the George Fox campus

“As an adjunct instructor, I saw the genuine care professors had for their students and how supported the students felt. The interpersonal connection was incredible! Students were able to be honest, work hard, have fun, and find their calling.”

Being in the classroom at George Fox gave Seigneur a behind-the-scenes peek into the university’s Be Known promise. In addition, the fact that George Fox is a Christian university with professors who are believers had a huge impact on her.

So, when it was time for her oldest son, Ryan, to begin the college application process, she strongly suggested George Fox.

“We encouraged him to apply to George Fox after I fell in love with the school,” Seigneur remembers.

The Be Known promise, which Seigneur experienced as an educator, came to life in a new way when Ryan chose George Fox to pursue an engineering degree.

And then again, when his three brothers followed in his footsteps.

The Be Known Promise in Action

One of the most powerful impacts of the Be Known promise that Seigneur noticed was the relationships her sons built with their professors.

She and her husband, Chris, saw professors engage not only with Ryan, their oldest son, but also with his younger siblings at on-campus events and celebrations, which influenced their decision to follow in Ryan’s footsteps and eventually make the Newberg, Oregon, university their college home.

Professors who had seen Seigneur’s younger sons – Michael Josef, Wesley and Gus – when they visited George Fox in elementary and middle school remembered them when they returned – as George Fox students.

As an engineering major, Gus, Seigneur’s youngest, joined a senior design team that engineered a wheelchair capable of navigating rough terrain. Seigneur remembers the camaraderie between the student team and their supervising professors at their project presentation.

“I’m always listening for stories and connections,” she remembers. “At the Order of the Engineering presentation, the keynote speech by Bob Harder, dean of engineering, was so good as he wove God into his talk. And afterward, I saw my son laughing with his professors and then hearing about Dairy Queen runs after a hard day’s work. All of this helped me see the way that the professors show students they care by connecting with them both in and outside of the classroom.”

Gus Seigneur with professors John Natzke (left) and Bob Harder (right)

Seigneur was also impressed by George Fox’s strategic partnerships with industry mentors who help students gain industry experience to transition from education to careers.

“These mentors stay in touch with students and graduates, making sure they connect with jobs and feel supported as they move into their career lives,” Seigneur reflects.

In a full-circle moment, Ryan, the first Seigneur to graduate from George Fox in 2013, now works as a test and development engineer in engine systems at Hyster-Yale Group and gives back by bringing students from George Fox’s engineering department to Hyster to gain industry experience.

Michael, who earned both his bachelor’s degree in biology in 2021 and master’s degree in physician assistant studies from George Fox in 2025, now works as a physician assistant at Regenerative Orthopedic Center. He met his wife, Sarah, at George Fox.

And Wesley, a mechanical engineering major, was hired by Garmin, a company that designs and develops GPS-enabled products, after a 2021 summer internship.

For Seigneur, George Fox did more than prepare her sons for their future careers.

She reminisces warmly, “George Fox has given my kids a home, a place for belonging and community during the four–sometimes five – years they attended and well beyond. And it taught them how to give back and serve.”

Cornelia's four sons - Ryan, Michael Josef, Wesley and Gus - at Gus's graduation

A New Generation of Fox Students

As Seigneur’s sons have graduated and begun their careers – or future careers in the case of Gus, who is currently in flight school – she and her husband have been delighted to see them pass their Bruin fever on to the next generation.

Seigneur’s son Ryan and his wife, Larissa, also a George Fox graduate, have brought their children to homecoming games and other on-campus events. And daughter Rachel, the only non-George Fox child, and her husband Stefan have brought their children to Welcome Weekend and other events over the years to support her siblings.

Seigneur beams as she talks about her grandkids. Her oldest grandson, Matthew, who has grown up with Bruin pride, as both of his parents are George Fox graduates, has shown particular interest in George Fox.

“He’s 9, and already has an engineering mind like his father Ryan had at a young age. We were recently at George Fox for his Uncle Gus’s graduation – all 17 of us – and Matthew and some of his cousins announced that they would also like to attend George Fox. Not only are they excited about the idea of college in general, but they have their sights set on George Fox!”

Seigneur’s passion for George Fox goes beyond school pride; it reflects her joy as a mom watching her sons and daughter find their place in the world.

“Being able to say that my four sons and two daughters-in-law not only attended George Fox but really flourished there, thrived there, and found a home – a place of belonging for those four years – is such a gift.”

She also has advice for other parents curious about what George Fox offers.

“I’m probably one of George Fox’s biggest cheerleaders. You will never find a school that cares more than Fox. I stand by that! The professors become your student’s champions, the focus on Christ is huge, and the class size means that the Be Known promise is tangible. So get on campus and experience everything Fox has to offer prospective students and parents. Get a feel for the incredible opportunity available to your student through George Fox University.”