North Park has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School鈥檚 global reach and outlook.
After 125 years, we鈥檝e learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to North Park and find affordable ways to attend. If you don鈥檛 see what you鈥檙e looking for on our website, please contact us directly!
North Park offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
North Park Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university鈥檚 mission and alumni needs.
The Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award is granted to an outstanding senior exemplifying passion for learning and giving to the community.
Over the course of Ellen Hilbrands鈥� academic career at North Park, she has distinguished herself as a top academic student with a 3.965 GPA and as an active participant in campus and community life. The 2021 Lincoln Academy Laureate and Sociology senior actively participates in her learning by staying after class engaging in deep conversations with her professors, elevating her knowledge in areas of interest such as research methods.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really encouraging to me that my professors nominated me and saw my dedication on- and off-campus,鈥� said Hilbrands.
To be nominated, Hilbrands had to meet the criteria of being a senior in a college of Illinois exemplifying leadership characteristics of Abraham Lincoln: courage, empathy, honesty, and integrity. On December 1, 2021, President Mary K. Surridge presented in-person and on-campus to Hilbrands the 2021 Lincoln Academy Laureate award, a signed letter from Governor Pritzker, and a $500 check.
President Mary K. Surridge and Ellen Hilbrands
鈥淭his is a really big honor which comes with great endorsement and pride and delight,鈥� said President Surridge.
An ever-present inquisitive mind Hilbrands approaches her classes with a committed-to-learn work ethic. In her Justice in Education course, the first as a Sociology major right after switching from Elementary Education, she left each class with more questions than answers. 鈥淚 was excited to attend the next class and anticipate what new conversations and insights we would have together,鈥� said Hilbrands.
Well-regarded across campus, the Grand Rapids, MI, native connects with her peers taking on a variety of leadership roles including: organizing events such visiting art exhibits and touring Cabrini Green鈥檚 gentrification process; partnering with UMin for Friday Night Street Ministry; and serving as a University Ambassador for Admissions, SGA鈥檚 Religious Life Representative, Senior Class Senator, and Sociology Club Treasurer.
Doing more than expected is Hilbrands鈥� trademark. In her Methods of Social Science Research course, Hilbrands took on extra work to prepare her class research paper to be presented at the Midwestern Sociological Society’s 2021 Conference in Chicago March 2022.
Inspired by engaging in conversations about the ways to support one another in the community, Hilbrands generously gives back to the community sharing her passion for learning and own knowledge as a fifth grade reading tutor at Hibbard Elementary School and establishing an online, inter-generational book club.
鈥淭hank you for your commitment to the classroom and on a co-curricular basis, which we will honor at the Spring Convocation,鈥� Surridge said.
Hilbrands is a member of the Gospel Choir and has spent her summers as Kids College Camp Counselor, Kids College Camp Teacher, and Youth Services Intern at World Relief. Post-graduation, Hilbrands plans to stay and work in Chicago in a school or non-profit environment and then attend graduate school.
Hilbrands is already preparing how she can apply her Sociology degree towards realistic solutions to social issues. 鈥淚 am excited to make a difference in how humanity can continuously work together to combat injustices in a way that preserves the dignity of each and every person,鈥� said Hilbrands.
About the Lincoln Academy of Illinois
Each fall, an outstanding senior from each of the four-year degree-granting institutions of听higher learning in Illinois is awarded the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and thereby becomes a Student Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois鈥n the spirit of Lincoln, Student Laureates are honored for their leadership and service on campus and beyond in the pursuit of the betterment of humanity, and for overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities. Nominees demonstrate strong leadership aptitude and the characteristics of Abraham Lincoln that made him someone who inspired and transformed the world for generations: integrity, courage, honesty, and empathy.
“During my time at NPU, I had an opportunity to intern at Immanuel International church in Stockholm, Sweden.”
Fanchon Kelley, S鈥�19, Master of Divinity
“During my time at NPU, I had an opportunity to intern at Immanuel International church in Stockholm, Sweden. One Sunday when I first got there, I was at the church’s worship service. In the beginning of the service, they asked for first-time visitors to share where they are from and what brought them to Immanuel church. Many people got up and I was amazed that people were literally visiting from around the world. People stated they were from Africa, Asia, America, and Europe. Literally almost every continent was represented in the church.
The first song that we sang was a familiar hymn called “How Great Thou Art.” When everyone joined in, you could hear the different accents and dialects of people as they sang. It was a great representation of the diversity within the body of Christ. Even though we were from all over the world we were able to come together and sing to God. It is a memory that I always hold on to and that helps me appreciate our differences.
I learned that even though cultures and relationships can be different, God is the common denominator that can bring us all together. We may worship differently and have different views, but this is what makes the church special and unique. We can鈥檛 be who we are without each other and our differences.
Being part of the North Park community means that I am part of an organization that has deep roots in the Christian faith and a history that tells the story of individuals who saw the importance of Christian education. I believe that the history and growth I am part of has propelled me in my own growth and journey with God. I feel equipped and academically trained because of this community.”
We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at
“As I sat at my desk busily writing in a frantic effort to complete my exam, some students had already finished theirs, threw their blue books on the professors’ desk, and ran out to see what was happening.”
Rollin A. Swanson, C鈥�57, S鈥�63
“In June, 1956 I was completing my freshman year at North Park. The old gymnasium had been set up as a large classroom with desks for students to take their final exams. While writing blue book essays, we heard a sudden explosion from across the street, and an odor of smoke wafted through the open windows of the gym. Within a few minutes, there were screaming sirens and reflections of red flashing lights against the classroom windows. What was happening!? Fire! Fire! But where and what? It must be right across the street from campus!
“As I sat at my desk busily writing in a frantic effort to complete my exam, some students had already finished theirs, threw their blue books on the professors’ desk, and ran out to see what was happening. Completing mine with a hurried ending and hoping for a passing grade, I headed for the exit. Seeing Lambert’s Sports and Men’s Wear Shop engulfed in flames and smoke along with six Chicago Fire Department trucks, police, and ambulances blocking all of Foster Avenue, I ran to my dorm room in the old Spaulding Building and grabbed my camera.”
“I shot these photos with my Kodak 35 of a fire which turned out to be both destructive and spectacular, but with no injuries of which I was aware nor loss of life. And the exam I wrote that day in my blue book? I passed it! It was an afternoon which now, after 65 years, I still remember.
As for my North Park experience, I was challenged academically by stimulating lectures in American and world history by Zenos Hawkinson, enjoyed so much the Swedish language class taught by Martin Soderback, botany with Carroll Peterson, and basic Christian beliefs taught by Chaplain Irving Erickson. I must hasten to speak of the many friendships I made鈥攖he rich social and spiritual life with my fellow students鈥攖hese I will never forget. Above all, the Sunday morning worship experience at North Park Covenant Church and the inspired and intellectually challenging preaching by the Rev. Douglass Cedarleaf鈥攕ermons which I have long remembered. Under Pastor Cedarleaf’s influence, I sensed the clear and definite call of God to enter the pastoral ministry鈥攁nd so I did, serving God in the parish for sixty years.”
We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at
Having recently retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander, Charles Sikorski C’99 shows us that anything is possible with enough persistence and determination.
Charles Sikorski, C’99
We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at
“One of my favorite memories from North Park is from my first year and in Linda Parkyn’s SPAN 2010 class.”
Kelli Swanson, C鈥�15, Spanish and K-12 Education
“North Park is special to me for so many reasons. Both my grandparents, my aunt, and my uncle are all graduates of NPU, so I am a third-generation graduate. My grandparents, Armour and Beverly Swanson, have a corner of the library and a classroom in the Johnson Center dedicated to them. There was no pressure for me to go to North Park but the second I walked onto campus for a tour, I leaned over to my sister and told her it was where I wanted to be.
One of my favorite memories from North Park is from my first year and in Linda Parkyn’s SPAN 2010 class. One day Professor Parkyn had us singing Christmas carols, in Spanish of course, at the tops of our lungs in Carlson Tower. This memory is just one of many that showed me I was in the right major.
North Park鈥檚 School of Education prepared me to be the teacher I am today, and I am genuinely thankful for the professors that guided me to success. Because of North Park, I officially earned my tenure status, completed five years of service at my school, and have a Master’s of Education in Education Technology.“
We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at
“Earning my MBA at 91社区福利 gave me a full understanding of how business operates.”
Kahlil O. Crawford, G鈥�19, MBA
“Earning my MBA at 91社区福利 gave me a full understanding of how business operates. Previously, I would have business experiences with little or no awareness of their mechanics. However, that changed significantly while learning from Dr. Kasthuri Henry. She invested her personal time in identifying my passions and honing my interests. Her humanitarian approach to accounting gave me a holistic appreciation for business management that I otherwise would not have had. In Dr. Henry鈥檚 accounting class, I gained a better understanding of the processes behind financial transactions, how they fit into the larger structure of budgeting, and how that ultimately drives capitalism.
Due to my North Park experience, I now enter business situations with a fully informed awareness of their value and overall significance to the greater good. Therefore, I unequivocally declare that North Park’s School of Business & Nonprofit Management (SBNM) is one of the business world’s best-kept secrets because our community:
Embodies humble excellence & strives toward it daily.
Values & prioritizes the development of human character.
Provides a well-balanced intellectual calm in the eye of today鈥檚 ideological storms.
Pragmatically integrates the tenets of The Gospel into our collective vision & values.
Has an unparalleled commitment to urban education in the City of Chicago & beyond.“
We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at
“The School of Music at 91社区福利 provided me with endless opportunities to not only grow as a musician, but as a leader.”
Ashley Rewolinski, C鈥�14, Music in Violin Performance
“The School of Music at 91社区福利 provided me with endless opportunities to not only grow as a musician, but as a leader. As a violinist and arts administrator, I look back at my time at North Park with so much gratitude for my experiences that are extremely rare for an undergraduate music major. I performed a hidden gem of the violin repertoire and my personal favorite violin concerto, Louis Spohr’s Violin Concerto no.8, with the University Orchestra during my sophomore year. Taking music compositions in the later part of my undergraduate studies helped me reach my creative potential and learn so much about myself as a musician. I will never forget performing my own compositions during my senior recital. Those pieces were so distinctively me, and I love sharing them in my professional life to this day.
“My very first solo performance as a North Parker was just one month into my first semester! It was a chamber music concert off campus, and I was one of the soloists in Vivaldi’s Concerto for Three Violins where I would be performing with my violin professor. An hour before the concert started, I was the first to arrive at the venue and received a frantic call from my violin professor who had lost his sheet music for the concert. I quickly acquired music from our pianist and created parts for my professor to use. It was a true sheet music emergency! Back in 2010, a career as an Orchestra Librarian wasn’t even on my radar; now that I work full time as an Orchestra Librarian for the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, I look back on that moment proudly saying that is where it all began!“
We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at
14 of North Park鈥檚 pre-health students serve as ambassadors to Chicago-based Faith in the Vaccine Outreach Program.
Up and running at North Park since June 2021, Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) has 14 of North Park鈥檚 pre-health students serving as ambassadors to Chicago-based . Partnering with the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) and the IFYC, student ambassadors receive training and a stipend to promote COVID-19 vaccine trust and access.
Mentored by Health Professions Advisor Kristine D. Aronsson, 14 volunteer participants representing 12 languages were selected through an extensive interview process. Reaching out to cultural and religious groups where they have existing relationships, the COVID-19 vaccinated ambassadors are taking with them IFYC鈥檚 mission: Getting the vaccine is loving thy neighbor. The proverbial and relatable message is being brought to churches, places of worship, and student organizations.
鈥淎mong certain vaccine hesitant groups, 鈥榞etting the vaccine is loving thy neighbor,鈥� has been an effective message,鈥� said Aronsson.
As trained educators, student ambassadors distribute fact sheets printed in several languages including Spanish and Arabic, while talking with communities about vaccine hesitancy such as how mRNA vaccines work and what vaccines are not doing to your body. In addition to gaining vaccine trust, ambassadors promote within their communities access to receiving the vaccine, and removing common barriers like costs of transportation to/from a vaccine site and childcare. Ambassadors extend their outreach efforts to working on-site at mass vaccination clinics held at North Park鈥檚 campus, Lake County Fairgrounds, and Swedish Hospital.
The 14 student ambassadors continue to actively engage and serve their communities in innovative and culturally sensitive ways 鈥� all while allowing students to volunteer and acquire real work experience in healthcare. Since hospitals are highly selective with who they bring on-board because of COVID-19, students will be able to reference specific work experiences and why they would be a good fit in the healthcare area they are interested in pursuing.
鈥淚 am so proud of all the student ambassadors and the important work they鈥檙e doing reaching out to their communities,鈥� said Aronsson.
For additional health professions information, contact Dr. Keith Boyd in Health Sciences.
A university tradition, NPRESS provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to complete graduate-level research over eight weeks with a North Park faculty mentor.
The North Park Research Experience for Summer Students (NPRESS) resumed in-person this summer on Wednesday, September 1, in the Helwig Board Room. A university tradition, NPRESS provides undergraduate students the opportunity to complete graduate-level research over eight weeks. Students apply along with a faculty mentor, proposing their research projects. The following four seniors were selected to be a part of the 2021 cohort:
Erinn Borg, Psychology
Vladimira (Mira) Cechova, Psychology
Damaris Cifuentes, Exercise Science
Jason Andrew (JDrew) McGovern, Biblical and Theological Studies
Erinn Borg studied the impact of telecommuting on student job-satisfaction and work-life balance. She conducted field research with 50 students enrolled in summer courses at North Park.
Mira Cechova researched college students鈥� psychological well-being (PWB) to understand the influence of online coursework, self-efficacy, motivation, and a growth mindset. Through her project, Cechova quantified how the transition to online learning during a pandemic affected college students and their PWB. Her presentation also offers solutions to how the University may better support a population that already struggles with stress.
Cechova applied for NPRESS per Dr. Yoojin Choi鈥檚 recommendation, who encouraged Cechova to pursue this unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience. In addition to learning valuable research skills, Cechova highlights the ability to strengthen relationships with faculty, 鈥淣PRESS is a great way to interact with faculty in a more professional way rather than just student/teacher interactions. We have some amazing faculty at NPU, and I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to get this research done without them.鈥�
Encouraging students to apply for NPRESS, Cechova says, 鈥淣PRESS is honestly an amazing and rewarding experience, and I have so many good things to say about it. I think there鈥檚 no better way to really understand research than to jump in and participate first-hand in both planning and executing a research project. This is something you will never regret.鈥�
Damaris Cifuentes investigated the relationship between Reactive Strength Index (RSI) and an upcoming injury screening tool called the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS). In order to directly identify injury risk, specifically anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, she assessed poor biomechanical jump-landing techniques. Modifying the current LESS procedure, she aimed to create a more sport specific demand within the test as well as a more accurate injury risk assessment.
Cifuentes, interested in pursuing a career in biomechanical research, learned about NPRESS through Dr. Cobb. Cifuentes is grateful for the opportunity to partake in graduate level research as an undergraduate student. 鈥淚 was able to gain more exposure to different types of technology commonly seen in the biomechanical field, which was very helpful as I was able to get hands-on experience. I consider Dr. Cobb a good mentor as he has pushed me to excel in my academics as well as my desired career path,鈥� said Cifuentes.
JDrew McGovern听researched social, historical, and religious issues in Colombia, Central America. Additionally, he utilized a theological foundation to analyze and critique a peace-building project called SEHPAZ in El Bagre, Colombia initiated by North Park graduates, Julio and Katie Isaza. Focusing on the themes of creation, sin, and the Gospel, JDrew offered further solutions and a model for participating in the mission of God and restoring 鈥榮halom鈥� in Colombia as well as other parts of the world.
鈥淎ll four NPRESS 2021 students made a great impression on the gathering of faculty, staff and students, showing high quality graduate-level research,鈥� said Dr. Rajkumar Boaz Johnson, the chair of the NPRESS 2021 Final Presentations.听
“It was at a basketball game that I first saw my husband, Norman Eugene Larson.”
Lenore Johnson Larson, A鈥�46
“My parents were Swedish immigrants and enrolled me in North Park Academy my junior year, hoping to instill a connection to our heritage. It was quite different then鈥攚e had chapel every morning, attended classes in Old Main, and we weren鈥檛 allowed to cross the street on school days. Girls were just starting to wear slacks; we were quite rebellious, changing into jeans before going to watch a game.
It was at a basketball game that I first saw my husband, Norman Eugene Larson. He was tall and stood out to me from across the gym. Our first date was a hayride party sponsored by North Park Covenant Church, and he asked me to go steady by giving me his class ring, which I wore around my neck. Norm graduated a year before me, but only lived two blocks away while attending Northwestern University, so we continued going to North Park sporting events and youth activities at church. Norm went on to become an M.D. and I finished nursing school, but I kept that connection to our heritage, staying involved at church and serving as a volunteer and Chairman of the Board for the Swedish American Museum.
After Norm passed in 1995, I established the Dr. Norman E. and Lenore J. Larson Scholarship in his honor. My only stipulation was that the scholarship support students going into medicine. I鈥檝e collected many memories of our time at North Park in my scrapbook, which always brings a smile as I think about North Park鈥檚 campus today and the one I stepped foot on just 75 years ago.“
We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at
Author Ellen AlmerPosted on Categories Announcement, Stories
“In June, 1956 I was completing my freshman year at North Park. The old gymnasium had been set up as a large classroom with desks for students to take their final exams. While writing blue book essays, we heard a sudden explosion from across the street, and an odor of smoke wafted through the open windows of the gym. Within a few minutes, there were screaming sirens and reflections of red flashing lights against the classroom windows. What was happening!? Fire! Fire! But where and what? It must be right across the street from campus!
“The School of Music at 91社区福利 provided me with endless opportunities to not only grow as a musician, but as a leader. As a violinist and arts administrator, I look back at my time at North Park with so much gratitude for my experiences that are extremely rare for an undergraduate music major. I performed a hidden gem of the violin repertoire and my personal favorite violin concerto, Louis Spohr’s Violin Concerto no.8, with the University Orchestra during my sophomore year. Taking music compositions in the later part of my undergraduate studies helped me reach my creative potential and learn so much about myself as a musician. I will never forget performing my own compositions during my senior recital. Those pieces were so distinctively me, and I love sharing them in my professional life to this day.
