Monday, April 24, 2017
Category: Students and Alumni
Alumni Awards Banquet
On April 1, 2017 Messiah College awarded a few outstanding alumni at our annual Alumni Awards Banquet. The following recipients have made significant contributions to church, society and community, and continue to bless others as they pursue their individual callings. We are so proud of their servanthood and leadership, and we believe that these alumni deserve a special recognition.
Aaron Faro, recipient of the Young Alumnus Achievement Award
This award recognizes an alum who has attended Messiah College within the last 15 years for significant contribution to church, vocation, community and/or Messiah College.
Our recipient, Aaron Faro, currently serves as the Messiah College athletics recruitment director, top assistant for the men’s soccer team, and director of Messiah’s sports ministry program, AROMA. Faro uses athletics as a way to serve and minister to others.
Sam Casey explains, “[Aaron] has chosen to live his life to help young men and women discover their true identity in Christ and sends them out into the world to change the world through Christ using the platform of sports.” Nick Hanson would agree adding, “Aaron has an unwavering commitment to seeing the gospel of Jesus Christ expand and this spills over into all facets of his life, including his roles as husband, father, friend, coach, AROMA director, and mentor.”
Dr. Kimathi & Dr. Tosha Sampson Choma, recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award recognizes a lifetime of vocational achievement in a manner that embodies the mission of Messiah College. Dr. Kimathi Choma and Dr. Tosha Sampson Choma are awarded this honor because of their passion for diversity and inclusion in their vocations at Kansas State University.
For the past decade, Dr. Kimathi has served as the assistant dean for diversity, recruitment and retention at Kansas State University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He led many initiatives to represent the underrepresented students, and established a mentoring and retention program for African American male students. Dr. Tosha Choma currently serves Kansas State University as an assistant professor of English and affiliated faculty for American Ethnic Studies. The two of them have encouraged hundreds of students to pursue their callings and become servant leaders.
John Arthur Brubaker, recipient of the Alumni Christian Service Award
The Alumni Christian Service Award recognizes outstanding lifelong service or long-term effort in fulfilling the mandates of the Christian gospel to both serve and sacrifice for the needs of humanity.
This honor is awarded to John Arthur Brubaker for his lifetime commitment to leading the church and shepherding individual hearts and Christian communities toward deeper faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.
For nearly 60 years, Brubaker has served the Brethren in Christ church as an associate pastor, pastor, church planter, missionary, and bishop and has contributed a great deal to ministries in Africa. Even after retirement, he continues to serve in a variety of ministries such as the Navajo BIC Mission, Pacific Lifeline and Sikalongo Bible Institute, the Theological College of Central Africa and the Theological College of Zimbabwe.
Bishop Engle says, “[John Arthur] is a man of utmost integrity. He always listens carefully before he speaks and never seeks the limelight. He has come to be known as the consummate churchman – loved and respected by young and old alike. In every way, John has always expressed a humble attitude, a wise mind, and a loving heart.”
Dorothy and Ralph Larsen, recipients of the Alumni Appreciation Award
The Alumni Appreciation Award recognizes individuals who have contributed to Messiah College in an extraordinary manner through long-term professional service, significant volunteer service, or financial contributions. This award goes to Dorothy and Ralph Larsen for their generous financial contributions and faithful service to Messiah College throughout the years.
Dorothy Larsen has led this institution by serving on the Board of Trustees for over a decade. During this time, she championed the vision and development for the Larsen Student Union and Orchard Hill, both of which have become integral spaces for building relationships and fellowshipping within our campus community. While we are saddened by Ralph’s passing in 2016, his legacy will live on, particularly through your gift to construct the Ralph S. Larsen Finance Lab, which is currently being designed for students in the Finance major. Through their contributions, Dorothy and Ralph Larsen have greatly impacted thousands of students and alumni, providing the resources necessary for Messiah College to fulfill its mission.