MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — Mount Vernon Nazarene University Homecoming celebrations began with Commencement Chapel on Friday and concluded with the President’s Prayer Breakfast on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, graduates and their friends were welcomed with numerous events welcoming them home.

CHAPEL OF HOMECOMING

The Rev. Brad Kochis (’94) kicked off the Commencement Ceremony by speaking in the Commencement Chapel on Friday.

Kochis currently serves dual roles as District Superintendent of North Carolina Parish Church of the Nazarene and as the newly adopted Chief Development Officer at MVNU. Addressing the crowd, he spoke about the importance of the local church and its impact on MVNU.

“Mount Vernon is important because the local church is important,” Kochis said. “In my current role as district superintendent, I have had a front row seat to seeing how the local church is making a difference to the work around them. “To me, the local church is the most important entity in the world.”

Kochis saw firsthand the impact local churches can make after the devastating Hurricane Helene hit his area this fall.

“When a disaster strikes, the local church shows up long before any government agencies show up,” Kochis said. “When a disaster strikes and government agencies and news crews move on to the next big headline, the local church stays planted, right where it loves, right where it cares. The local church—whether in Swannanoa, NC, Asheville, NC, Forest City, NC, or Waynesville, NC, where disaster struck in the Lake Lure area—not only show up, they stay. I’ve seen them do incredible things.

“That’s why I believe Mount Vernon Nazarene University is important because the local church is important. Institutions like Mount Vernon Nazarene University are important to the fabric of our society. I believe this completely. I don’t believe (MVNU) is important just because of what it has done for me and my personal life. “I believe (MVNU) is important because it brings greater benefits to the entire world.”

GRADUATE SERVICE AWARDS

The MVNU Alumni Association presented many awards during the Graduation Chapel. Dr. Distinguished Alumni Service Award to Paul (’83) and Becky (’82) Freel. Dr. Jennifer (Chlam) Holmes was this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and Pastor Edward Solano was also honored with the Outstanding Clergy Alumni Award.

For a more detailed look, visit mvnu.edu/alumni-awards.

COUGAR WALL OF FAME

Phil Argento, Mitchell Soviak and Riley Swanson were inducted into the Cougar Wall of Fame. Three former Cougar Athletes were introduced during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Trinity Christian College on Friday.

Argento played on the men’s basketball team from 1999-03 and ranks second all-time in school history with 2,338 points scored in his career. Argento is the program’s all-time leader in three-pointers made with 465.

Soviak, who shot for MVNU track and field from 2015-2019, became a National Champion by winning the men’s shot put at the outdoor nationals in 2019. He finished his MVNU career with four All-American honors in the men’s shot put.

A 2016 graduate of MVNU and its baseball program, Swanson finished his career ranked first all-time in assists with 615, fourth in program history with 56 doubles and fifth in program history with 210 games played.

For a full summary, visit mvnucougars.com/general/2024-25/releases/20241019guqwz6.

NOMINATIONS OF ALUMNI

Two select graduates of Mount Vernon Nazarene University were honored during Commencement Festivities on Saturday. Mary Beth Bird (’84) and Melissa (Prater) Rex (’99) were commemorated with separate dedications.

A Knox County native and graduate of Fredericktown High School, Bird earned his bachelor’s degree from MVNU. He passed away on March 4, 2022, at the age of 60, and left most of his legacy to the University.

Although Rex is not a native of Knox County, he left his mark on MVNU and its faculty, staff, and students during his time here. He passed away on September 24, 2011, after a long battle with lymphoma.

“It was so inspiring. “He was very loved,” he said. His classmate and friend from the class of ’99, Rev. Dr. James Smith. “He was a light. He was a leader. He was wise beyond his years. He has partnered with Jesus in our lives and that is the most important thing. That was the life he lived.”

For more information about dedications, visit mvnu.edu/dedications.

RETURNING HOME COURT

The MVNU student body crowned its King and Queen during Homecoming celebrations Saturday night. Seniors Evan Hodkinson and Lyssi Snouffer were cast in their respective roles.

Homecoming Court candidates are selected by the student body for being Godly leaders at the school, being honest and caring about others, demonstrating a sense of responsibility and trustworthiness, and having high academic standing. Among the names nominated for King were Jordan Gregory and Zeke VanArsdalen, while Marissa Kunes and Kiersten Winey were also nominated for Queen. The remaining field was made up of freshmen Drayton Berry and Mari Jo Thompson; sophomores Luke Faircloth and Avery Stults; and juniors Tyler Maddux and Lily Scarberry.

CHAIRMAN’S RECEPTION

Dr. Castleman greeted graduates, donors and friends on two separate occasions during the Commencement Ceremony. On Saturday afternoon Dr. Castleman held a Presidential Reception at Foster Hall and gave a report on his first year at MVNU.

Among the highlights were increased enrollments. Thanks to the success of the International Executive Studies program, first-time university enrollment increased by more than 10 percent and graduate enrollment increased by nearly 30 percent.

Dr. “One of the things we focus on is enrollment,” Castleman said. “When I started on October 1, 2023, I immediately started the IES program, which is the International Executive Studies program. Some have questioned this, but the reason is twofold.

“The first and most important reason is that we see the GPS program as an evangelistic tool. It is a tool to introduce individuals who have never attended a Christian institution before into Christian education. They will be exposed to the gospel in every course. Second, international students must pay full fee. There is no financial aid. They are required to have cash in the bank in order to be accepted and come to the institution. … We started on January 20 of this year. “We started with zero international students and as of this week, we have reached 208 students in the international program.”

Dr. Castleman also took some questions from attendees and answered their thoughts. One of the questions asked was the success of the engineering program.

Dr. “We are starting to do a real data analysis of our enrollment in each of our programs,” Castleman said. The two programs we focus on most and believe are underutilized are our nursing program and our engineering program. We’re really digging in and trying to see how we can grow these programs. We attach importance to marketing our engineering program. We have just passed our ABET accreditation and have been approved for another six years. “We’ve put that behind us and we’re working diligently on it.”

Offering programs in mechanical, electrical and computer engineering, MVNU began exploring civil engineering according to market needs.

Engineering students were also asked a job placement question.

Dr. “We look at that in our job placement rate because the problem is that students go back to their hometowns and there may not be jobs there,” Castleman said. “What we need to do is start building partnerships with organizations, and that’s not something we have right now. Now I can say that our placement rate in the nursing field is high. “When a nurse finishes her work here, they settle in a good place.”

To combat this issue, Castleman said MVNU is also establishing an engineering collaboration board that will help establish partnerships in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. This initiative will increase career readiness by providing students with paid co-op positions that offer real-world experience and academic credit.

PRAYER BREAKFAST OF THE PRESIDENT

We wrapped up Homecoming weekend with the President’s Prayer Breakfast on Sunday morning. Dr. Castleman, Distinguished Alumni award recipient Freels, and Distinguished Young Alumni award recipient Dr. He greeted about 80 graduates and friends who heard from Holmes.

For more information about Homecoming, visit mvnu.edu/homecoming.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian education university for traditional-age students, graduate students, and working adults. With its 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to the community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both on-site and online to approximately 2,100 students from 22 states and 21 foreign countries.

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