Notable Alumni of Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) has a rich history of fostering individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields. This article highlights some of the university's distinguished alumni, showcasing their achievements and the impact they have had on their communities and beyond. MVNU is a co-educational university with an evangelical Christian foundation and mission. It is part of the Church of the Nazarene's East Central District, and much of its educational philosophy is based on the Wesleyan-Arminian holiness tradition. MVNU is one of eight US colleges and universities affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene.
Honoring Alumni During Homecoming Festivities
Every year, the MVNU Alumni Association celebrates alumni who embody the values of the university through their work and lives - inspiring true meaning and creating momentum for others. During Homecoming, selected alumni are often honored for their accomplishments and service.
Mary Beth Bird: A Generational Gift to Innovative Learning
During Homecoming Festivities, Jetter 133, commonly known as the Round Room, was dedicated as the Mary Beth Bird Classroom for Innovative Learning. Mary Beth Bird, a Knox County native and Fredericktown High School graduate, received her baccalaureate degree from MVNU in 1984.
MVNU President Dr. Carson Castleman emphasized the lasting impact of Bird's contribution. According to Castleman, her gift will benefit MVNU students as well as those whom MVNU students will care for and minister to throughout their lives. He added that she has left a legacy that will last a very long time, and the university is forever grateful for what she’s done and what will happen because of her gift.
Melissa (Prater) Rex: A Legacy of Faith and Perspective
The R.R. Hodges Chapel/Auditorium holds a special place for many, including the late Melissa (Prater) Rex, a 1999 alumna. Rex, who passed away Sept, left a mark on everyone she interacted with. She was the wife of Doug Rex (’99) and mother to Caleb, Lauren and Audrey.
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According to Burgy, this campus was so much a home away from home for them. She said that one of their favorite times in life was when the three girls were here together: Missy and she as students, and Michelle working in admissions at that time, emphasizing that they sisters were best friends back then.
According to the plaque, Rex always wanted to look for the big picture and always went beyond and looked at the big picture of what was happening. She kept that same attitude of seeing that big picture of trusting God’s plan when it got hard to see past her own situation. Rex never lost sight of her creator - despite her ups and downs. The quote memorializes her on the plaque, reading, “In our college chapel, I use to sit and look around at the beautiful and enormous stain-glass windows. I like to believe that is what my life is like. While I sometimes see just one speck of it - perhaps one color that is not even attractive by itself - Jesus knows there is so much more than that. He sees it all - the magnificent beauty and wholeness that He longs for me to experience. Friends, whether on this earth or in Heaven, I know I will be healed. I would like for it to be here, but no one can take that truth away from me.
Alumni Association Awards
The Mount Vernon Nazarene University Alumni Association proudly announced the recipients of its annual awards during the Homecoming Chapel on Friday morning.
Dr. Paul and Becky Freel: Distinguished Alumni Service Award
Dr. Paul and Becky Freel received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award, which celebrates alumni who exemplify the spirit of MVNU through their caring and dedicated service to others.
The Freels, residents of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, are not only dedicated alumni but also passionate advocates for medical missions and community service, serving others both locally and globally. Paul graduated from MVNU in 1983 and earned his medical degree from East Carolina University. An accomplished Family Medicine physician, he also played baseball for MVNU. Together, the Freels have been actively involved in short-term medical missions for over 25 years, traveling to locations such as Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cambodia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, and even New York City during the early pandemic. They are also engaged in local service within their community. Becky has served on the Board of Trustees for North Greenville University and on the Executive Board for the Southern Baptist Convention. She is a year-round volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse and has served as board member of Dillon County Crisis Pregnancy Center.
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Dr. Jennifer (Chlam) Holmes: Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Dr. Jennifer (Chlam) Holmes was honored with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Holmes, a 2018 summa cum laude graduate with a double major in biology and chemistry, was sparked by her own experience as a young patient in an optometrist’s office.
After graduating summa cum laude from MVNU in 2018 with a double major in biology and chemistry, Dr. Holmes went on to earn her Doctor of Optometry degree from The Ohio State University in 2022. Dr. Holmes now works with the Veterans Administration, providing essential eye care to veterans in rural areas of North Central Appalachia. She has dedicated her career to serving veterans, treating ocular diseases in underserved areas. According to Holmes, the whole reason she went through all the learning she did at MVNU was so that she could serve others. That was the whole goal. She spent a lot of time on her education, on academics. Now is when she’s seeing that hard work is all paying off by being able to work with patients and being able to work with the students and teaching them.
Pastor Edward Solano: Honored Alumnus
Pastor Edward Solano and his wife, Ashley, were honored at the Homecoming Chapel. Solano, a 2017 graduate of MVNU with degrees in Pastoral Ministry and Philosophy, has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to serving others. He furthered his education by earning a Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 2023. Since graduating, Solano has made a profound impact through various roles, including serving as a church planter, an ESL teacher, and an instructor for Hispanic pastors. He currently co-leads the Westerville Church of the Nazarene, a bilingual congregation, and serves as one of three Multicultural Coordinators for the South-Central Ohio District. Solano’s dedication to ministry is matched by his passion for his community, family, and cultural experiences.
Alumni in Arts and Culture
MVNU’s Schnormeier Gallery is pleased to present “Coloring My Resiliency,” featuring the artwork of MVNU alumnus Kimberly Rhyan and artist Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart. The exhibition is on display through Nov. 21. A Gallery Talk will be held Friday, Nov.
The Significance of Alumni Engagement
Alumni engagement is a vital component of MVNU's continued success. The accomplishments of its graduates reflect the quality of education and the values instilled by the university. By celebrating and recognizing notable alumni, MVNU reinforces its mission and inspires current students to strive for excellence in their chosen fields.
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Mount Vernon Nazarene University: A Brief Overview
Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) is a private Christian university located in Mount Vernon, Ohio, with satellite locations in the surrounding area. The campus is home to several historic buildings, including the Lakeholm Farm, which features the Manor, Ice House, and Barn, all original to the farm.
MVNU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring the quality and credibility of its academic programs. The university offers a wide range of programs for traditional students, graduate students, and working adults, organized into six schools: Arts and Humanities, Business, Education and Professional Studies, Theology and Philosophy, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Natural and Social Sciences. The Graduate and Professional Studies Program (GPS) is for non-traditional students and offers associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. In 2024, MVNU launched its first fully accredited doctoral program in Nursing Practice.
Campus Life and Traditions
While on campus, students participate in student-led small groups, chapel services, mission trips, and community service groups organized and directed by upperclassmen. The Student Government Association (SGA) is responsible for many of the events that take place on campus. It consists of 13 members who are responsible for various aspects of community life, from planning events to influencing policies on important issues. Some campus events and traditions that take place annually are Welcome Week, Oaktoberfest, SonFest, and Block Party.
Athletics at MVNU
The MVNU athletic teams are the Cougars. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Crossroads League since the 2011-12 academic year. MVNU hosts most of its sports at on-campus facilities, the newest of which is Ariel Arena.
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