Each year at homecoming, NNU honors alumni for their accomplishments and service since graduating. Three individuals will be recognized Friday, November 9 at 10 a.m. during chapel in the Brandt Center’s Swayne Auditorium. All are welcome and encouraged to be a part of this special time of celebration.
2018 Alumnus of the Year: Dr. Scott Daniels
Dr. Daniels (’88) is the senior pastor of College Church of the Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho, and the pastoral scholar-in-residence at NNU. As the pastoral scholar-in-residence, Dr. Daniels enhances the student experience at both the undergraduate and graduate level. NNU's Wesley Center has special teaching and preaching events for the Northwest region that include messages from Dr. Daniels and faculty from the School of Theology and Christian Ministries (STCM). Moreover, he provides regular consultation to the STCM in strategic planning and implementation of education both to students at the university and its broader constituents. He is also an advocate and representative of NNU and STCM programs in his speaking and preaching activities.
His career has been spent rooted in both the local church and academe. Prior to his current positions, Dr. Daniels was dean of the School of Theology at Azusa Pacific University and the senior pastor of Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena, California. He is also a frequent speaker at conferences, seminars and college campuses and has contributed to several books, magazines and journals. Dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry Dr. Brent Peterson noted, "Dr. Daniels embodies how the local church and academy can come together for powerful Christlike transformation. We are so thankful to NNU and Dr. Daniels for making this relationship possible. We know this will be a blessing to NNU students, faculty, and our broader constituents." Because of his contributions to the Church and higher education, Dr. Scott Daniels was selected as the 2018 Alumnus of the Year.
2018 Professional Achievement Award: Lisa Nordstrom
The 2018 Professional Achievement recipient, Lisa Nordstrom (’93) has built her regulatory law career over the past two decades. She serves as lead counsel at Idaho Power Company, represents the company before Idaho and Oregon utility regulators, and has argued appeals before the Idaho Supreme Court. Prior to joining Idaho Power, Nordstrom had a similar role for PacifiCorp as a deputy attorney general for the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. She also served as adjunct faculty for NNU’s MBA program.
Beyond her career, Nordstrom volunteers for a variety of organizations that support children and law-related education. She is past president of the Family Advocates’ Board of Directors and represents guardians ad litem in its Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program to argue for the best interests of abandoned, neglected or abused children in foster care. This work has led her to appointment by Governor Otter to serve on Idaho’s Children at Risk Task Force and by the Idaho Supreme Court to its Child Protection Committee. Nordstrom also volunteers as a mentor to Concordia School of Law students and as a judge in Idaho’s High School Mock Trial Competition.
2018 Leon Doane Young Alumnus: Kenton Lee
Kenton Lee (’07, ’12) is the founder of Because International, a non-profit organization formed in 2009 committed to leveraging innovation to develop projects to improve daily life for people living in extreme poverty. Their first project, which was created by Lee, is The Shoe That Grows, a shoe that expands five sizes. Since the production of the first prototype in 2013, over 150,000 pairs of shoes have been distributed to kids in over 100 countries. The shoes are also starting to be produced where they are being used most; thirty thousand pairs have been produced at a factory in Ethiopia, creating over 50 full-time jobs to the area. The second project Because International is developing is Bednet Buddy, a free-standing bednet.
Lee has been featured by the Today Show, CBS Evening News, Forbes and other media outlets. In addition to his work with Because International, he is a keynote speaker. He has also worked as assistant director of Campus Life at NNU and pastor of The Table Church of the Nazarene. Lee earned a BS in Business Administration and Religion at NNU (2007), a Master of Organizational Leadership at Regent University (2009), a Master of Nonprofit Management at Regis University (2009), and a Master of Divinity at NNU (2012).
A complete schedule of events for Homecoming 2018 can be found at nnu.edu/homecoming.
Child care is available during chapel through KidZone Learning Center at College Church of the Nazarene. Reserve a spot online or through the Office of Alumni Relations at 208-467-8841.