91社区福利

Hailey Bianco, C鈥�23, Advertising and Art, Volleyball

“Mental health was not openly discussed among my volleyball team, and I wanted to help make it less taboo. I decided to start the North Park chapter of The Hidden Opponent because I saw a need for community. We started our chapter with about 25 student-athletes. This past season I heard more open conversations about internal struggles that we as athletes have been facing, especially during COVID. It has been very motivating to me to see so many student-athletes come forward who are eager to be involved.

“This past season I was facing a lot of personal struggles on top of the pandemic, which made giving my all to the team very difficult. From the beginning Coach Sopocy was supportive of me and my needs, making sure I knew that my well-being came before volleyball. I ended up deciding to take a step back from the sport, and the support I鈥檝e received has helped me take control and take care of my mental health rather than pushing it to the side. During this difficult time, I became more involved in University Ministries and built a close relationship with Pastor T. He provided me a safe space to talk openly and drew me closer to God. My faith was the most important thing that got me through this past year. Learning to slow down and be still led to me developing a deep sense of gratitude and helped me rest my mind.“

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Britta Mitchell, Asst. Director of Graduate Admission, School of Education, C鈥�06, G鈥�21

“One of the most vivid memories from my time as an undergraduate was the opportunity to take a summer study abroad class with Professors Mirza, McDonald, and Vic. I love science but was intimidated to take college level biology and physics. The class focused on the biology and physics of Iceland. We spent six weeks in the classroom and twelve amazing days in Iceland. From the solar eclipse to the fish hatcheries, the genetics lab, and the amazing waterfalls, I could not have asked for a better international experience nor better teachers. It was one of many opportunities at North Park to explore the world and become part of a global community.

“Being a part of the North Park community is being connected to the past and present. I am a fifth generation North Parker on my mother’s side. I am half Swedish, a part of the Covenant denomination, and a North Park staff member. I have been part of this campus since my birth and have been given the opportunity to grow here. It was during my undergraduate program that I found my voice and began to speak out against the injustice I saw in the world. At that time North Park was seeking to address diversity in a real way鈥攃hallenging us to think globally and examine our place in this world. When I returned five years ago, the student population had changed. The community was vibrant with diversity, and there was a growing population of first-generation students. It made me think of my great-great grandfather who came to this country as an immigrant and studied to become a pastor at North Park Seminary. He was separated from his family and had to learn a new language. Over the last 130 years, the campus has grown, many people have passed through the doors, and we are still a beacon for those that are new to this country. We know what it means to be the immigrant and the legacy. We stand in the past and the present, with the constant goal to serve the students of this institution. We prepare them to go out and serve their communities as global citizens, challenge social norms, and love as Christ loves us. That is what the North Park community means to me.“

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Michael M. Kazanjian, C鈥�66, Philosophy

“North Park had just become a four-year college when I applied. I had never heard of philosophy, but I took a class with Dr. Paul Sebestyen. About three days before my final exam, I bumped into Dr. Sebestyen in Wallgren Library, and we started talking. Our conversation lasted almost three hours. We were discussing his class, and I felt pretty confident answering the questions he was throwing at me. When we both had to go, I said, ‘I鈥檒l see you in three days for my final.’ ‘Mr. Kazanjian,’ he said, ‘you have been discussing our course with me for three hours. You just did the final.’ Later on, when I was in grad school, I realized what he had done was what phenomenologists would call ‘reintroducing testing into study,’ meaning that you don’t study for a test; your study and participation are the test.

“When I first took Dr. Sebestyen鈥檚 class, I thought he knew everything about everything. In the context of philosophy, he taught us about time, space, curves鈥攈e was teaching us the basics of calculus. I had a very hard time with mathematics in high school, but Dr. Sebestyen actually made it kind of fun. We learned that mathematics and philosophy have a lot in common. In many ways Dr. Sebestyen inspired the thinking of my book, Unified Philosophy: Interdisciplinary Metaphysics, Ethics, and Liberal Arts. He was far ahead of his time, and academia can still learn from him.“

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Kathleen Flores, C鈥�22, Nursing

“Attending North Park in the heart of Chicago has provided me with many opportunities to engage with my community as well as explore and be immersed in the culture of the city. One of the most memorable of these opportunities was through a Catalyst event for my Immigrant Identities class. We visited the Global Gardens Refugee Training Farm in Albany Park, which provides refugees with access to fresh fruits and vegetables and opportunities to engage in their community. Through storytelling and conversation, the individuals and families involved with Global Gardens shared with us about their cultures, identities, and experiences living in Chicago, as well as ways that we as a community can support refugees who have recently arrived in the U.S.

“I was able to learn more about current immigration issues as well as engage in cultural events and service/advocacy programs for immigrants and refugees in the Albany Park community. As a future nurse, I will work with patients of different cultures and ethnicities, so by learning more about the people in my community and engaging in programs such as Global Gardens, I hope to gain a better understanding of others and provide the best care for my patients.“

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Beth (Anderson) Hjelm, C鈥�77, Physical Education

“The fabric of North Park is the connections and friendships interwoven throughout our lives. My husband John Hjelm and his father, Rev. Bob Hjelm, both taught at North Park. While I was a first-generation North Parker, our daughters were the fourth generation in my husband’s family. I hope their children will continue the legacy.

“Several professors had a great impact on my teaching career and life. Ted Hedstrand’s camping class in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and Canada pushed me physically as I’d never canoed and camped in such a remote area before. Watching Ted catch our dinner and canoe for hours without ever tiring, was inspirational. He had such an easy-going personality and his love for that place was evident. Strong friendships were formed among the students as we spent each night talking around the campfire. This was also where I first met John, although our relationship didn’t develop until after we’d both graduated.

“Trudy Zemelis was instrumental in getting me an interview for my first teaching job, while Inez Olander taught me the importance of preparation and to always have a PLAN B! I was fortunate that Inez remained a friend for many years following graduation. She encouraged me to further my education and inspired me to find ways to improve my teaching methods.

“Perhaps most importantly, I’ve been lucky to maintain close friendships with three women鈥擲haron Hanstad Anderson, Kerstin Swanson Hilton, and Ruth Jensen Zschoche. We met in Ohlson House in September of 1973. The fact that we continue to be involved in each other’s lives despite living in three different time zones is a testament to how important those friendships are to us. We’ve traveled together, attended reunions, and now meet virtually every couple of weeks to catch up. What a gift they’ve been in my life!“

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Stephen Signa-Aviles, C’12, Art

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Sinead Molloy, C鈥�21, Nursing, Women鈥檚 Basketball听

“During my maternity rotation at Swedish Hospital, I had the exciting experience of being present as a woman delivered her baby. As a nursing student I could not do much, but just standing by her side was empowering to me. It amazed me what the body can do and how strong mothers are. Being in that room was like watching a miracle happen.

“So much of what I experienced during clinicals I could not have learned from a book, but my time in the classroom and the simulation lab we have at North Park really prepared me for those hands-on experiences. I鈥檝e learned that spending time with a patient, brightening up their day, and making sure they are comfortable can really help their overall health. Being able to do my clinical rotations around the city has given me experience in the hospitals where I might want to work in the future. This also helped me realize that I would like to specialize as a labor and delivery nurse. “

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We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Josie Summerville,听C鈥�22, Communication听Studies,听Women鈥檚听Basketball听

“My favorite memory from playing on the basketball听team,听is a game we played against Illinois Wesleyan during听my sophomore year.听We wanted to win. Badly.听They are听a good team,听but we knew we could beat them. So did a lot of fans. That game showed me how much support we have,听as students, family, friends, and even professors听turned out to support us.听The campus听community听truly came alive in the听arena,听cheering and clapping until the final buzzer sounded听as we won the game.听

“I鈥檓 in my senior year now, and my teammates and I know how each other plays. We know what we’re capable of. We know how to build each other up. Games have challenged that, but we have overcome adversity, trusting each other and having each other’s backs.听

“I moved here from Georgia, and at first, I was shy and of course, didn’t know a lot of people. But as I became a part of different groups on campus, the connections I made have been truly inspiring and special to me. After my freshman year, I decided to help other students with the transition to campus life as a registration assistant and orientation leader. I love to meet new people and helping my peers gives me a feeling of happiness and connectedness.”

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at

Michael Gagne, C鈥�12, Music

“As a student it occurred to me that many听of my peers may听not have been exposed to church music in its grandeur.听I听wanted an opportunity for people to hear听the magnificent pipe organ in Anderson Chapel听and听to sing some of the great hymns of our faith.听With support from Dr. Helen Hudgens听and听former Professor of Music, Dr. Rollo Dilworth, I planned听North Park鈥檚听first annual Hymn Festival Series.

“It was designed as a free public event where anyone might attend and hear the word of God, whether through scripture reading or a familiar hymn. Of course, this meant we had no idea how many people would attend. I will never forget that first hymn festival鈥攁fter concluding the organ prelude, I turned around to see the chapel filled with people from top to bottom. It was both awe-inspiring and humbling. I learned an important lesson鈥攖hat it never hurts to dream and to ask. You may be surprised and blessed by the response.

“During my Senior Year, in collaboration with Dr. Julia Davids, I directed the student led Handbell Choir that premiered in the 2012 Hymn Festival. I had about a month and a half to prepare an eight-member student ensemble, which was both exhilarating and terrifying. Our first public rehearsal was on the day of the hymn festival, and I can very much remember Dr. Davids complimenting how well the handbell choir played in such a short amount of time. It was a blessing to have received her tremendous support.

“In preparation for the hymn festivals, I also collaborated with my dear friend and mentor, long time University Organist, Mr. Leon Nelson. Lee provided a lot of insight into hymn selection, special organ settings, choral accompaniment, and organ improvisation. Many of these tools are beneficial to me today as principal organist and music associate at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church in Hawthorn Woods.听

We’re celebrating 130 years of North Park community. You’re invited to share your own story at