Alec Hill: Enjoying the Passion of New Staff

For ten days every June, new campus staff gather in Madison for training. As I got to know this year’s class of 95 gifted individuals, I was amazed by their love for God, as well as their passion for students and faculty. As a group, they are deeply committed to evangelism, student leadership, chapter planting, and chapter building.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this year’s class is the fact that nine non-staff spouses participated in the training. It must be love! My favorite couple story, however, involves a husband and wife coming on staff together – just two weeks after their honeymoon (see photo above).

The best way to demonstrate the joy of this year’s class is through photos from our National Service Center Day. I think that you will enjoy them. Special thanks to Keith Hirata for serving as program director and to Lorrey Thabet for running logistics.

In the photo above are Jenny and Payton Miller – newlyweds just back from visiting her parents in Malaysia. They will staff our Greek work at Indiana University.

Staff member Linson Daniel and his wife, Betina. Linson will be serving a South Asian chapter at North Texas University.

Enjoying lunch together outside the National Service Center.

With Brennan Takayama from the University of Hawaii. According to Brennan, we are greeting friends Hawaiian-style. I certainly hope he is right!

Enjoying herself at my desk, Jessica Molzahn of the University of North Carolina—Asheville, is one of several new staff eyeing my job. Not so fast!

Jenny Bottoni, left, is part of my Executive Office team. When she spied Michelle Verrill across the room, shrieks of joy resounded. Michelle was Jenny’s staff worker at the University of Miami several years ago. As is evident from the smiles on their faces, they were tickled to find each other.

With Andy Ober, a recent graduate from Harvard Divinity School and new staff member at Tufts University.

Leon Powell, of Yale, and Jennifer Ikoma-Matzko, Interim Asian American Ministries Coordinator, ham it up for the camera.