Alumni Award Winners 2004

The 2004 recipients of the Alumna and Alumnus of the Year awards and the Carry the Torch award have been announced by the MNU Alumni Association. The recipients will be honored during the Main Event on Saturday evening, Oct. 23.

Carry the Torch Award: Mike Major

Mike Major with his family.

“MNU taught me what matters in life – God matters, family matters, relationships matter, integrity matters and reputation matters,” said Mike Major, 2004 Carry the Torch award winner.

He’s had one job, one family, one church and one consistent, steady walk with Christ since graduating from MNU in 1976. The Carry the Torch award goes to individuals who carry the motto of MNU – “To learn, to serve, to be” – into every area of their lives and this year the Alumni Council believes Major is that person.

Learning, serving and being Christ within his realm of influence has been Major’s pattern for living. He is currently senior vice president at First National Bank of Olathe. He is the longest-tenured employee in the organization, starting as a part-time messenger during college and continuing through head of operations and now head of the financial management department. He is also manager of the bank’s investment portfolio and chairman of the asset/liability and investment committee.

He is on the Salvation Army advisory board, worked as a United Way volunteer and fundraiser, has assisted the Olathe school district as a volunteer on bond issues and treasurer for local political candidates. In his church, Olathe’s Westside Church of the Nazarene, he serves on the board, has taught Sunday school and serves as a youth sponsor. He and his wife, Kathy (Reed, ’77), are charter members of the church.

“Mike is disciplined, creative, generous, compassionate, perceptive, interesting, predictable, and fun-loving, but best of all, he is a great mentor and friend,” said Rev. Charles Pickens, pastor of Westside.

Mike and Kathy have two children, Paul and Beth. They have been married for 28 years.

Alumna of the Year: Lori (Cunningham) Wegley

Lori Wegley with her husband Dave and children Lauren and Robbie.

Since graduation in 1984, Lori Wegley has taught at Tomahawk Elementary School in Olathe and has earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Kansas in 1989.

In addition, she was named “Kindest Kansas Citian” by the STOP Violence Coalition in 2001 and was nominated for Kansas Teacher of the Year in 2003.

These awards and degrees are just symbols of Wegley’s dedication to her career. She consistently strives toward excellence in every aspect of her work as a teacher.

“Lori’s sense of humor, understanding of children, and mastery of curriculum help her to guide students to be the best they can be,” said Linda Armstrong, principal of Tomahawk Elementary. “She teaches more than academics to her students. She creates a classroom environment of caring and kindness, leading by example through her own high moral standards and personal integrity.”

Wegley is married to Dave (’82), assistant professor of business at MNU, and they have two children, Lauren, 14, and Robbie, 11. The Wegleys have been highly involved with the teens at their church and co-teach a class for young married couples.

When reflecting on her days at MNU, Lori described the impact the university had on her life.

“I met my husband, formed lifelong friendships and was academically prepared for graduate school,” she said.

“I observed professors who modeled lives that integrated Christ into their daily living. They taught more than content; they taught that we could allow Christ’s love to permeate our lives and workplaces, and challenged us to go out and do so. I have spent my career trying to do just that.”

Alumnus of the Year: Dan Nelson

Dan Nelson with wife Shelley and Daughter, Lauren.

Returning for his 30-year reunion, Dan Nelson is a fine representative of the early years of MNU. His excellence in work, family life and dedication to God are all factors in why he has been named the 2004 Alumnus of the Year.

“After student teaching he became a junior high band director and graciously provided assistance with my marching band at Shawnee Mission West with no remuneration,” said Ron McClellan, MNU music professor and longtime friend of Nelson. “That’s the kind of person Dan is – giving without counting the cost.

“Dan has also developed an outstanding instrumental music program at Point Loma Nazarene University,” continued McClellan. “This has happened because of his outstanding vision and the ability to make dreams into reality.”

Those dreams started at MNU when he graduated in 1974 with a degree in music education. He earned his Master of Arts in music from the University of Minnesota in 1978 and returned there for his doctorate in music education in 1999.

Today Nelson, his wife Shelley (Noffsinger, ’79), and daughter, Lauren, live in San Diego, where he is a professor of music and music education at Point Loma Nazarene University. He is also the director of worship at San Diego First Church of the Nazarene.

He was recently recognized by the California Music Education Association Southern Border Section as Educator of the Year. He is used extensively for judging and presenting at conferences.