It could be argued that there has never been a time with more unrest.  I am an avid news reader, and watching world patterns over the past year has been enlightening and troubling, to say the least.  The conflict in our world saddens me, and to watch it progress every day can be worrisome.  From time to time, an article finds its way to fruition bearing a title in regards to Generation Y, the Millennial, or in more relative terms, me.  My peers, the kids that I grew up with, follow Generation X, and now we get to see what everyone has to say about us.  We are described as the up and coming, the unpredictable, the lazy, the undriven, the future.  Forbes says that by 2025, Generation Y will comprise 75% of the total workforce.  MSNBC says that we are perhaps the best-educated generation ever, but simply can’t find jobs.  As members of the Millennial generation, it is so vitally important that we inform ourselves.  Education and thirst for knowledge will re-define our future, as our past has been so defined.

There are monumental things that we Millennials have experienced in our lifetime.  We grew up to celebrate the year 2000, terrorists attacking our nation and breaking down the ones we loved, an enormous and staggering technological advance, an economic crisis second only to the great depression.  The accumulation of these things have profoundly shaped our generation.  We were, perhaps, the first generation to grow up with what some would call ‘modern technology’, i.e. the household video game system, the first standard big screen TVs, modern cell phones, and perhaps most significantly, we were the first generation that grew up with computers.  Our families had them, we played games on them, made websites, taught ourselves to design, and became accustomed early on to their seeming magical ways and creative powers.  Ever since I was little, I’ve been completely intrigued by, and good with, computers.  I’m fairly certain I  helped teach my parents how to use computers since I was in grade school!  Kiplinger has an article called ‘Technology is in their DNA,’ commenting on the way that Gen Y’s see technology as enhancing the quality of our lives, and how it is second nature to us.  The amount of knowledge and information we can access amazes me, and it has been amazing to watch the progression of technological advances that occurred since I’ve been around.  The comfort with which we rely on computers and technology and the fact that our generation is accustomed to these sciences on such a basis will lead to enormous advancement in the span of my generation.

While my talent and path may be in business, others have dreams to pursue politics, sciences, technology, education, and much more.  I am excited to see what my peers and I can accomplish once we have the chance to apply our knowledge to the world.  The advances in sciences and technology may prove to redefine our world during my time.  My future is large, and the future of our nation is enormous.  I hope my generation we will someday thrive once we take our place in the professional world.  I am looking forward to seeing the outcome of all of our hard work.

“Following a path made at other universities, Northwest Nazarene University School of Business Dean Steve Mountjoy is teaching a class on social ventures, where students create business plans with a financial and social bottom line.

“’Business really should be meeting the needs of the communities it works in to make those communities thrive,’ said Mountjoy . . ..  ‘Too often, those things are distanced from the real needs of the communities that they serve. Especially in American, where we are bombarded by marketing, we are told what we want rather than having businesses serve our needs.’

Dr. Steve Mountjoy

“The 50 students in the social ventures classes, half of whom are seniors completing a final seminar, will work in small teams making their social venture plan. In late March, they’ll present their plans and compete for a cash prize and the chance to travel to Seattle Pacific University in April for a larger contest featuring teams from across the northwest.

“Potential social ventures include secular or church non-profits, engineering projects, and businesses that address a social need. Though the NNU class is new, Mountjoy sent a team to the SPU competition last year with an idea for a database system that matched volunteers with organizations needing help, based on the volunteers’ expertise and abilities. The winner of last year’s SPU contest was Pterofin, a prototype small wind or water turbine that can generate energy at low speeds. Previous winners include a landscaping company that would train ex-offenders and a soap company that would create manufacturing jobs and a larger supply of soap in the Philippines.

“Mountjoy said the new class is designed to appeal to non-business majors, and that he has students majoring in English, political science and social work taking the class. He also said the class fits NNU’s religious mission.

“’Christians should be doing this kind of thing,’ he said. NNU’s School of Business, which has 300 students split among undergraduate, adult degree and MBA programs, strives to include religious and ethical education. ‘What we want to develop is ethical leaders in business.’”

“A month prior to my high school graduation, I received the opportunity to take part in a medical mission trip to Antigua, Guatemala. My mother is an RN, and I was invited to travel with Team 258 to document a life-changing trip through photography and a daily blog, as well as assist in translating for the local patients and staff. I have grown up going on mission trips, so this was far from my first. However, my heart was the most humbled in this trip as I was able to share the story of the patients through my eyes.

“In Guatemala, many of the impoverished find themselves situated in the jungle on the sides of the volcanoes. The hospital at which we worked and performed surgeries was also an orphanage for children who’s families could not provide the care that they needed, or by special needs children and adults that would not have been able to live in the mud huts and poverty of their families. Walking through the rooms of the orphanage was one of the most eye-opening experiences I have ever had. There were two rooms in particular that just broke my heart. The first was a room for malnourished infants, as well as many babies impacted with cleft lips and palettes. These children were looked down on by the culture, and at times were left at the orphanage because their family simply did not want them, or thought they inhibited a bad omen. In the next room, there were rows and rows of baby cribs, about 40 in all. Walking up and down the aisles, it became obvious that these were not babies. There were people ranging in five years of age to twenty years of age, each nestled inside their own baby crib. So malnourished and unhealthy that even at the age of twenty, they were still able to fit in a crib. They were still children in means of their mind, but each of them were so happy to see us. It was uplifting to see the smiles spread across their faces as we walked down the aisles and interacted with them.

“This is something that has stuck with me, even nearly two years later. I hope to someday return to Guatemala and continue the work that is continually being done there. Faith in Practice was the group that I traveled with, and the hearts of the people involved and dedicating their life to these children and patients are the most compassionate hearts that I have ever met.

“The cultural differences between our group and the locals were immense and I was touched to see the gratefulness and respect with which the patients treated us. I learned a lot about different cultures and simply about the abundant gratefulness of others when you take the time out of your schedule to help. Trips like these can bear great impact on our lives, especially those who travel to help others.”

Article and pictures by Taylor Rauch

Majors were informed that last year’s graduating seniors had cumulatively scored in the 95^th percentile on the nationally normed ETS exam, and that in the entire history of the Department, seniors had consistently scored in the 85^th to the 95^th percentile on the ETS.

Department Business Clubs were given the opportunity to introduce leadership, a summary of their programs, and meeting times.

• Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), CIO Janette Bumgarner, meets Thursdays, 11:30, Harter room 203.
• Accounting Club, President Zach Perry, meets Tuesdays, 11:00 AM, Helstron room 201
• Student Managed Fund, President Josh Siverson, meets Thursdays at 11 AM in the NNU Trading Room (Helstrom room 207)
• American Marketing Association, President Lauren Hartford, meets Tuesdays, 11:30 AM, Harter room 203.

As faculty advisor, Dr. Konya Weber attended the 2011 International American Marketing Association (AMA) Collegiate Conference.  The AMA chapter was represented by Josh Siverson (President) and Justin Kellerer (Vice President).  The students successfully competed and won the following awards:

• 1)  Exemplary Collegiate Chapter Performance
• 2) AMASavesLives Organ Donation Awareness Campaign Best Event Award
• 3) 3rd place for AMASavesLives Donor Registrations Jan. 1-March 18

Story from the Campus Communicator April 1, 2011

This exclusive honor is conferred by more than 1,900 schools from 50 states and the District of Columbia and has become one of the most highly regarded and long-standing honors programs in the nation.  Faculty and students made their selection based on leadership potential, participation and leadership within school organizations and extracurricular activities, community involvement, Christian witness and G.P.A.

The six business students selected to receive this top scholastic achievement are: Bryan Beaty (Salem, Ore.), Business Administration/Management; Danielle Bickford (Battle Ground, Wash.), Business Administration/Global Business; Larissa Glover (Star, Idaho), Business Administration;  Preston O’Malley (Monroe, Wash.), Accounting;  David Reimer (Whitefish, Mont.), Business Administration/Management;  and Ryan VanBeek (Yakima, Wash.), Business Administration/Management.

See the NNU Campus Communicator  March 22, 2011

Statue of Poseidon in Liberec, Czech Republic

Dr. David Chaplin, Associate Professor of Economics in the School of Business, presented “Effort and Efficiency in Elite Amateur Boxing Tournaments” at the “International Scientific Conference: Europe – Youth – Olympism” in Liberec, Czech Republic February 10-12. The Conference was organized by the Technical University of Liberec and sponsored by the European Union, Czech Olympic Committee, Czech Public Benefit Corporation and the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival (EYOWF 2011) committee.

Dr. Chaplin’s paper was co-authored by internationally-acclaimed amateur boxing coach, author and advocate for women’s boxing, Christy Halbert (Nashville, TN) and NNU’s own Andrew Knapp (2010 graduate in Philosophy and Political Science).

We congratulate Dr. Chaplin for his continued scholarship and international recognition, and applaud his efforts to encourage and include student collaboration is his research.

Last Fall, the AMA collegiate chapter participated in a national competition to increase awareness of the need for organ donation.  “NNU AMA set up a table in their student center to promote organ donation and register students as donors. They created a video for the event detailing the importance of organ donation. Additionally, NNU AMA creatively marketed the event by wearing and selling organ donation t-shirts. Results: Nearly 100 people registered as organ donors during this event.” (taken from AMAsaveslives.com)  Results of the competition may be seen on the national AMA website.  Congratulations to our students!

You can continue to support the AMA club’s efforts by registering and increasing awareness for organ donation at  http://www.amasaveslives.com/register.php

The accounting club recently began the year with a BBQ and plenty of great food. Elk burgers were provided compliments of Professor Mollie Sweet.  With good conversation, they welcomed veteran and rookie accounting students, and even some students declaring other majors.  They met under the trees outside Helstrom, and enjoyed great weather and an opportunity getting to know one another better.

The Club is planning several activities this year to get out and do good in the Treasure Valley. To achieve this goal they are planning a community service project of raking leaves at homes in Nampa, and learning about tax through a program that provides tax services to those with a need.

Professors Ann Thompson-Crabb and Mollie Sweet are the faculty sponsors of the Accounting club, and Kate Saunders is president.

The School of Business marked the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year with a meeting attended by all students, faculty, and staff.  Dean Steve Mountjoy introduced the faculty and staff, and Department Chair Konya Weber directed the meeting activities and announcements.

Students were informed of internship requirements and opportunities, the Summer Reading Program to earn upper-division credit, and travel opportunities with the MBA travel groups.  The four student clubs were also promoted; Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), American Marketing Association (AMA), Accounting Club, and the Student Managed Fund.  The meeting closed with ice cream bars for everyone.

On this date the School of Business has 111 business students with majors in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Global Business, Management, or Marketing.  There are 14 members on the faculty, ten with terminal degrees and three more with all but dissertation.  Six staff personnel support the School and its traditional, STEP, and MBA programs.