Seven Outstanding Leaders Celebrated

The Alumni Awards dinner, held October 6 at the Boston Marriott Peabody, was hosted jointly by Gordon’s three living presidential couples: Michael and Rebecca Lindsay, Jud and Jan Carlberg, and Dick and Jody Gross.

Outstanding Alumnus of the Year
K. David Goss ’74
David Goss is a lifelong student of history. Before returning to Gordon as a faculty member in 1999, he dedicated 25 years of professional work experience in the museum administration of five highly respected historical venues include the House of Seven Gables and the Beverly Historical Society and Museum. David currently serves as scholar-in-residence with the Gordon College Institute for Public History and directs the History Department's Public History and Museum Studies program.

An effective ambassador for the College, he has made Gordon known in a variety of areas through his hard work, his many publications, and his award-winning contributions to his field. His students benefit as David provides hands-on experience in historic presentation, and his mentoring of Gordon students has opened up leadership opportunities for Gordon students at Pioneer Village, and at the Salem Museum at Salem Old Town Hall—opportunities found on few campuses. All of David's accomplishments have enhanced the College's relationships with local communities and reinforced Gordon's tradition of excellence in historical studies.

A. J. Gordon Missionary Service Award
Rachel Simons ’02
Growing up in a family with close relatives serving in China and the Philippines, Rachel was well aware of the many facets of missionary service. While still in high school, she spent six weeks in Romania, and she returned to that nation during her junior year at Gordon and served for a semester with the missional community Word Made Flesh. This time of intense exposure and discipleship in community among the poor opened her heart in a new way to God's call to care for the widow, the orphan and the fatherless.

After graduating from Gordon, Rachel movied to Romania, where she ministered in a variety of ways for seven years. Today she is involved in a Word Made Flesh missional community in the capital of adjacent Moldova, as part of a team of Moldovans, Romanians and Americans. They reach out to children institutionalized at one of Moldova's largest orphanages. Rachel has a special heart for adolescent girls and boys, and is passionate about helping children of all ages discover their value and talents through artistic expression.

Young Alumnus of the Year
Prashan DeVisser ’08
Prashan founded and leads Sri Lanka Unites, a youth movement that pursues reconciliation, conflict transformation and youth engagement in his home country of Sri Lanka, and across the world. He has spoken at international youth conferences on four continents and trains youth in conflict transformation and proactive leadership.

Prashan also has taken oaths as a Justice of the Peace, and spends part of his time as the host of television shows including Good Morning, Sri Lanka and All About Success. He co-hosts a foreign policy program, Global Perspectives. Prashan is eager to pursue graduate studies in foreign policy and conflict transformation.  

Jack Good Community Service Award
Dr. Paul Lorentsen ’85
Paul received his M.D. from Loyola University in Chicago in 1990 and became board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. While serving as chief of internal medicine at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona, he realized that many residents of that city were medically underserved and uninsured. This inspired him to co-found the Neighborhood Christian Clinic, which provides low-cost medical and dental services. He has served on its board of directors since 1995, and as the Clinic's medical director since 1999, seeing the clinic through a 275% surge in patient visits over the last seven years.

Although he is involved in quality assurance, strategic planning and fundraising, Dr. Lorentsen most enjoys his time spent in direct patient care. Part of the clinic's mission is to share the gospel. In short, Paul's work changes lives for the better, physically and spiritually. He also volunteers in a variety of areas beyond the Clinic.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Marvin Wilson
Between Barrington and Gordon Colleges, Dr. Wilson’s teaching career has spanned 50 years so far—and, he estimates, about 10,000 students. His influence extends far beyond the Gordon campus . A scholar, author, and master teacher of Old Testament and Jewish-Christian studies, he also builds bridges of understanding between the evangelical Christian and Jewish communities.

Winifred Currie Award in Education
Robert ’50B and Marion ’50 Hughey
Bob and Marion graduated from Barrington and Gordon expecting to become missionaries in the Belgian Congo. Instead, they embarked on an amazing journey in special education. Early in their careers, they earned master's degrees. Bob served at several schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut with a 25-year stint in Hartford, where he handled many administrative needs and was involved in the Special Olympics. Marion developed a diagnostic program for preschoolers, and the reverse mainstream program that she spearheaded allowed special needs children to be integrated with their peers.

They retired in the early 1990s from the official workforce, which opened the door for them to finally get to the mission field to which they had felt called after college. Bob went to Puerto Rico in his first year of retirement, and later to Australia and New Zealand. On a missions trip together to Russia, they served children with special education needs. The Hugheys, married for more than 60 years now, continue to invest in people's lives, share Christ's love, and—by their example— teach others to serve.

NEXT: Michael Gerson Addresses Responsibility, Opportunity, and Suffering

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