°µÍø±¬ÁÏapp Magazine Alumni Tribute
By Valerie Cronk Kushnerov ’92
Given March 17 at The President’s Associates Reception for the Winters
I am so honored to represent alumni in this tribute to Dr. Winter. He has moved and inspired us over the 25 years he’s been at °µÍø±¬ÁÏapp and continues to challenge us in our post-°µÍø±¬ÁÏapp experience.
His leadership has been central to creating a place where students can learn to make a difference in our world today. What kind of world do we want? What role can we, as alums, play in helping °µÍø±¬ÁÏapp attract students who will make a difference? How can we personally support the college in achieving this mission?
I first had the opportunity to meet Dr. Winter when I was 14 as my family moved to California so my father could join the president’s staff. One of the activities in which I participated was a trip to the Dodger game for the president’s staff and their children. I remember being surprised that a college president was interested in baseball and knew where to get the best Chinese food.
I decided to attend °µÍø±¬ÁÏapp because of its strong Christian liberal arts program and was not disappointed. During my sophomore year, I participated in an off-campus program in Washington, D.C. While I was there, the university president was asked to leave for inappropriate behavior. I was reminded of how blessed I was to be a °µÍø±¬ÁÏapp student with a president like Dr. Winter and was so struck by this incident that I wrote to thank him for being a man of God, a man of character, and a man we all respected.
My junior year, while editor of the campus paper, I met with Dr. Winter for weekly fireside chats about campus and world issues. I was constantly impressed with the depth of his understanding and care for the college and the °µÍø±¬ÁÏapp community as a whole. His door was always open to me and any other student who wanted to talk.
Since graduating, I have remained close to the college and continually admire the grace and humility of both David and Helene. Their lives reflect, so clearly, a strong faith in the Lord and peace about his plans for their future.