Tabor College President's Journal

It’s official.  The 2009-10 academic year has been launched.  As Provost Ressler announced to the packed Hillsboro MB Church at the 2009 Academic Convocation, “Learning season is officially open.  You are free to learn.”  Dr. Ressler continued to inspire us by recognizing the many academic accomplishments by faculty and alumni during the past year.  Here are some of them:  Doc Kyle published his 9th book, John Knox: An Introduction to His Life and Works;  Dr. Bill Kostlevy published Historical Dictionary of the Holiness Movement; Professor Shin-hee Chin has published a website of her art work  www.shinheechin.com, Dr. Doug Miller was recognized for his work on The Believer’s Church Commentary, Professor Aleen Ratzlaff for contributing three chapters to Seeking a Voice: Images of Race and Gender in the 19th Century Press, alumnus Bryce Unruh as a principle engineer for the NASA Kepler Mission, and alumnus Dr. Louis L’Abate for receiving the American Psychological Association Life Time Merit award.  He then challenged us to be courageous, curious, critical, and committed.

We also recognized three National Merit Scholars, Allison Isaac, Crystal Prieb, and Rachel Unger, 23 Presidential Scholars, Michael Adamyk, Ashley Bird, Erin Dick, David Ewert, Amanda Faber, Sarah Friesen, Benjamin Gottsch, Benjamin, Heyen, Courtney Janzen, Lauren Just, David Loewen, Maria Loewen, Emily Miller, Emily Olson, Kristen Pitschmann, Jeremy Reiswig, Jenae Rempel, Caleb Schmitz, Carrie Schroeder, Clayton Shewey, Naomi Toews, Andrew Wiens, and Jordan Zielke.  Add to that the 96 Dean Scholars, and you can do the math… about 25% of our student body received high academic awards.

All this to say that we have a gifted faculty, accomplished alumni, and some very smart students. But then, this is an academic institution, so what would you expect.  I love hanging around them.