Great appreciation shown to CIU scholarship donors
Aubrey Crawford thanks CIU scholarship donors for making her education possible. (Photos by Kierston Smith)
By Bob Holmes
She just started her college career, but freshman Aubrey Crawford has some big dreams. The major from Florence, South Carolina wants to hone the videography skills she first learned in high school so she can 鈥渃apture the stories of missionaries and their work and share it with the world.鈥
At a recent CIU Donor Luncheon, Crawford had the privilege of sitting across from a couple who are helping to make her dreams a reality. She met Peter and Molly Bain who are providing scholarship funding toward her tuition, and they are impressed with the young student.
鈥淪he鈥檚 so sweet and she鈥檚 got real vision,鈥 Mrs. Bain said of Crawford. 鈥淲e certainly invested our money wisely,鈥 she added with a joyful laugh.
鈥淚t鈥檚 certainly worth it to invest in the Kingdom more so than anything else,鈥 Mr. Bain noted. 听听
The annual luncheon, was back on schedule for 2021, after being cancelled last year because of COVID concerns. Dozens of students stepped up to a microphone to introduce themselves and offer a personal thank you to donors in attendance, and others who were watching via livestream.
鈥淚t is so cool,鈥 Crawford said of meeting the Bains. 鈥淚鈥檓 really grateful to have this opportunity to meet them and see the people who have brought me here.鈥
Prior to the luncheon, the donors sat among the student body at a Chapel service featuring CIU鈥檚 2021 Alumnus of the Year, Chaplain (Col.) Larry Dabeck (鈥89,鈥98) who serves as command chaplain at U.S. Army South in San Antonio, Texas. He formerly served as deputy joint staff chaplain, the number two chaplain for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon.
Dabeck said that while at CIU for 14 years, both as a student, and as a staff member, he more clearly recognized the difference between who he is in Christ, and his eventual calling to military chaplaincy. He spoke from Ephesians 4:1
Therefore I,听the prisoner of the Lord,听implore you to听walk in a manner worthy of the听calling with which you have been听called 鈥
鈥淚dentity (in Christ) is who you are,鈥 Dabeck said. 鈥淐alling is what you think. It flows out of that identity, flows out of that center 鈥 Whatever that calling is today, let鈥檚 walk worthy.鈥
Hear Dabeck鈥檚 entire message on CIU鈥檚 archives.
奥颈迟丑听,听CIU consistently ranks听among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a听.听听on enrollment at CIU and听听at听(800) 777-2227, ext. 5024 or听.听 听 听 听 听听