MB Biblical Seminary's Fresno campus recently honored sixteen students with scholarships and awards for the 2006-2007 academic year. In addition twelve students earned their place on the Seminary's first Academic Dean's List.
In his first year at the Seminary, Academic Dean Dr. Lynn Jost has inaugurated a Dean's List for Fresno campus students earning grade point averages of 3.8 and above in a given semester. Awards given in April represented the work done by students in the fall 2006 semester. High Honors went to Eliberto Mendoza of Grulla, Texas; Jesse Penner of Fresno, California; Matthew Insley of Hays, Kansas; Beverly Griffith of Atlanta, Georgia; Tye Ferdinandsen of Fresno, California; Andre Janzen of Germany; Paul Bartel of Fairview, Oklahoma; Derek Thiessen of Winkler, Manitoba and Nathan Tiessen of Chilliwack, BC. Highest Honors were awarded to David Wolter of Clovis, California; Yevgeniy Runkevich of Rancho Cordova, California; Ben Schmidt of Hillsboro, Kansas; and Alex Suderman of Winnipeg, MB.
"It was a privilege to be included in such a distinguished group of students," said recipient Nathan Tiessen. "Each student recognized used their gifts well, and worked very hard to maintain a high standard of excellence."
In addition, scholarships were handed out to the following individuals from the Fresno campus. Matthew Insley, a Master of Divinity student was awarded the Peter and Sophie Enns Honors Scholarship. Ben Schmidt, a Master of Divinity student was presented with the Rueben and Emma Baerg Scholarship. Lucas Regier, a Master of Divinity Student from Grant, Nebraska was given the Carson MB Church Endowment Scholarship. Chris Lewis, a Master of Divinity student from Fresno, California and Terry Maldonado, a Master of Arts in Intercultural Mission student from Clovis, California were together awarded the Henry J. Schmidt Multi-Cultural Leadership Scholarship. Sherri Eason of Merced, California and a Master of Arts in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling student was given the Nettie Toews Honors Scholarship. Mary Nelson of Oakhurst, also a student in the Master of Arts in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling program, was awarded a Marriage, Family and Child Counseling scholarship. Nathan Tiessen a Master of Arts Old Testament student was presented with the John and Catherine Froese Preachers of Promise Award. Budi Hartono of Indonesia and a Master of Arts in Intercultural Mission student received an Alumni Scholarship, while Scott Carolan, a Master of Divinity student from Saratoga Springs, New York was awarded a Faculty Scholarship. Ilone Kasdorf of Brazil, a Master of Arts in Intercultural Mission student, earned the Christian Apologetics and Missions award. Catherine Hoy, a student at the Seminary's Langley, BC campus studying in the Master of Arts in Christian Studies program, was awarded with the Lynnette Friesen Memorial Scholarship.
Awards for specific accomplishments were also given at the Graduation Banquet, which took place on Friday, April 27. Graduate Eliberto Mendoza was presented with a Youth Ministry Excellence Award; Beth Conkle, a Master of Divinity graduate from Fresno, California and Lisa Washio, a Master of Arts in Intercultural Mission graduate from Citrus Heights, California were voted to have the best Senior Seminars. Conkle wrote The Church in the World: A Living Expression of Shalom and Washio, Living Simply In An Affluent Society. Jason Hiebert, a Master of Arts New Testament graduate from Buhler, Kansas won best thesis for his work on Faith, Works, and Abraham Caught Between Paul and James: An Examination of Romans 4 and James 2.
Through its campuses in Fresno, California; Langley, British Columbia; and Winnipeg, Manitoba, MB Biblical Seminary inspires and equips men and women to live as disciples of Jesus Christ, and to serve and lead in the church and in the world.
Posted: May 15, 2007