FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2008
Contact: Steve Poetzl, Elizabeth Seybold, 684-7345
Pat Walsh, The Ulum Group, 434-7021; 513-1236 (cell)
NCC STUDENTS AND STAFF DEPARTING FOR CAMBODIA AND ISRAEL
EUGENE, ORE. -- A garage sale Saturday, May 3, will raise funds to support two groups of Northwest Christian College (NCC) students and staff that will travel overseas next month for mission trips. The garage sale will be held at the NCC quad at 828 E. 11th Ave., Eugene, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting. In the event of inclement weather, the sale will be moved into the Morse Event Center, located at 1075 Alder St., Eugene.
One group of 10 students will leave for Cambodia on May 13 and will return on June 3. A second group of 11 students will leave for Israel on May 16, returning May 28. Campus Pastor Steve Poetzl is coordinating the Israel expedition, and Area Residence Coordinator Elizabeth Seybold is coordinating the Cambodia trip.
The group visiting Cambodia will be a service-oriented group, spending roughly half their time in the capital of Phnom Penn, and then venturing into rural provinces of the country. The Cambodia faction will collaborate with Cambodian churches to assist in orphanages and other areas of need.
The Israel group may help at a food or clothing bank while in the country, but much of their time will also be spent touring the Holy Land¹s many historic sites.
Participating in the Cambodia trip are the following NCC students: Junior Jonni Byrne, Medford Ore.; sophomore Kaitlin Coppins, Harlingen, Texas; senior Anthony Eggleston, Hillsboro, Ore.; sophomore Bethany Howard, Philomath, Ore.; freshman Justine Moss, Beaverton, Ore.; sophomore Kristina Neet, Lowell, Ore.; senior Ginalyn Pearson, Bothell, Wash.; junior Jen Rider, Nampa, Idaho; junior Meghan Tweit, Anchorage, Alaska; freshman Ryan Vermilyea, Eugene, Ore. Also traveling with the group is Elizabeth Seybold, NCC area residence coordinator.
NCC students traveling to Israel are the following: Sophomore Melissa Anderson, Portland, Ore.; sophomore Cyndi Beeler, Corvallis, Ore.; sophomore Jason Bell, Junction City, Ore.; junior Andy Card, Medford, Ore.; sophomore Jenneca Crocker, Philomath, Ore.; junior Chad DeKay, Fall Creek, Ore.; sophomore Christy Fisher, Cottage Grove, Ore.; sophomore Tara Kennedy, Eugene, Ore.; freshman Jed Noles, Corbett, Ore.; sophomore Mandy Robertson, Veneta, Ore.; sophomore Kevin Wythe, Homer, Alaska. Also traveling with the Israel group are Campus Pastor Steve Poetzl; Angela Doty, NCC director of career development; and Heike and Dave McNeil. Heike is associate professor of chemistry and head cross country coach.
The mission teams meet on Sunday afternoons to prepare for their respective journeys. These weekly meetings serve multiple purposes, such as financial counseling, learning pertinent information about the destination countries, learning some basic Hebrew (for the Israel group), and team-building activities.
Responsible for raising funds for their own travel, mission participants have been fund raising since October. The Cambodia trip costs $2,600 per person, while the Israel expedition will cost $3,200 per person. The travelers' primary means of securing support have been letters seeking financial assistance from family and friends. Other fund-raising efforts have included a faculty/student silent auction, root beer float sales, Bingo night and Duck game day parking. One creative, long-tressed male student, Anthony Eggleston, collected close to $100 in the "Cut Anthony's Hair" fund-raiser.
Approximately 78 percent of the needed funds have been collected at this time. For more information or to make a donation, please contact Elizabeth Seybold at 684-7345.
About Northwest Christian College:
In July 2008, Northwest Christian College will be renamed Northwest Christian University. Northwest Christian is a liberal arts college dedicated to developing competent, ethical leaders for service in the workplace, community, Church and world. The College was founded in 1895 and is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ. Northwest Christian College offers 18 undergraduate degree programs, four master's degree programs, and a professional studies program for working adults. More information about the College is available at www.nwcc.edu.
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