For students in Jill Morstad’s Basic Skills in English class, learning became much more real than learning how to order words on a page. This spring, the 16 students undertook an unusual project to benefit orphans at the Pan American Health Service, Inc.’s orphanage in Peña Blanca, Honduras, while enhancing their own communication skills.
For pre-med students like senior Courtney Laubach, the Union College International Rescue and Relief (IRR) program’s semester in Nicaragua provides hands-on experience that gives them a unique advantage in medical school. “I’m really excited to go to Nicaragua,” said Laubach. “It will be good to provide medical care and make a difference in someone’s health through education. You can treat the symptoms, but only education can really help in the long term.”
 Don Abbey, a biology professor at Union since 1998, and his wife, Janella, will be leaving Union after this academic year to become the Asian Projects field directors for Adventist Frontier Missions. |
The Frontier Nursing Class is going on a Medical Mission trip over Spring Break: March 8-19, 2012.
 Ben Herzel, a junior international rescue and relief major, spent four weeks last summer volunteering with Tiny Hands International in Nepal. |
 Robinson Aigbokhan, a senior from Nigeria, learned to build both physical and spiritual muscles at Union College. |
 Union College student art will be on display in the Noyes Art Gallery, 119 S. 9th St., on Wednesday, November 30, to benefit Cassie Fitzpatrick's Not "Oh Well" project to build a well for the Maasai people of Africa. |
Lauren Kelley, now a first-year student in Union College’s physician assistant studies program, took a long look at the list of unusual ice cream flavors. As a student missionary for the Ambassador’s Medical Outreach and Relief (AMOR) Projects in Peru, a day off was the perfect chance to learn more about the local life.
“I heard someone behind me trying to get my attention,” Kelley said. “I turned, and to this day I can still see his face.”
On Sunday, April 17, Union College will host an arts and crafts sale to benefit Tiny Hands International, a Lincoln-based organization dedicated to stopping human trafficking in Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The second annual “Tiny Hands, Big Hearts” sale will take place from 1:00-5:00 p.m. in the atrium of the Don Love Building on the campus of Union College.
Two Union College student missionaries serving in Peru are unharmed after river pirates accosted their boat on Friday. Rachel Downey and Stephanie Rivas are volunteering this school year with Touch of Love Ministries based in Pucallpa, Peru. The two were traveling with several other volunteers when the incident took place.
“We thank God that all our student missionaries are safe,” said Rich Carlson, Union’s director of student missions. “We have been in contact with the parents involved and are working with the local authorities to make sure this matter gets resolved.”
