Leymah Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate, receives EMU’s “Alumna of the Year Award” and shares personal reflections. Also being honored posthumously is Glen Lapp, EMU’s “Distinguished Service Award” recipient, who was killed in 2010 while on a medical relief trip to a remote part of Afghanistan. Reverend David Myers also brings greetings from the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
The reunion classes gather in Lehman Auditorium for a short presentation. President Swartzendruber recognizes the newest inductees into the EMU Hall of Honor, as well as Alumna of the year Leymah Gbowee and the Distinguished Service Award recipient Glen Lapp. Leymah Gbowee and the parents of Glen Lapp offer a response of gratitude.
Hear the introduction of and response by 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate and EMU Alumna of the year Leymah Gbowee. “Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” is an award-winning documentary about the Liberian women who took on the warlords and regime of dictator Charles Taylor in the midst of a brutal civil war. The documentary is not included in this podcast, but an introduction to the evening is followed by a response presentation by Leymah Gbowee.
Leymah Gbowee and Doug Hostetter share stories on their experiences with faith-inspired peace building. Carolyn Stauffer is worship leader.
Carolyn Stauffer is Assistant Professor in the Applied Social Sciences Department.
Doug Hostetter serves as the Mennonite Central Committee Representative to the United Nations and is a EMU alumnus. Doug is the 1966 class president.
Leymah Gbowee is a social activist and alumnus of the EMU Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. She is the 2011 EMU Alumna of the Year and was recently awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, sharing the prize with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and women’s rights activist Tawakkul Karman of Yemen.
During Homecoming, 2010, in this Sunday morning service of worship, Alumni association award recipients Nadene Brunk ’75 and Dwight Gingerich ’81 share their stories as they reflect on Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus calls his followers to rest.
EMU alumna Nadene Brunk, 1975, receives this year’s Distinguished Service Award during Homecoming. In this Homecoming chapel, she reflects on years of work in Haiti. Brunk is founder and manager of an organization called Midwives for Haiti.
