Corban Connection Women’s Luncheon held Saturday, April 12
April 15, 2008
The first “real” spring weather of the season did not keep 210 women from attending the 41st annual meeting of Corban Connection women’s auxiliary group this past Saturday. Held in the Psalm Performing Arts Center on April 12, the luncheon event featured music by Corban students, testimonies by scholarship recipients, and a quilt auction. Attendees donated ten thousand dollars which will go toward projects and student scholarships for the 2008-09 school year.
 Across the generations, relatives of Betty Markwood (far right) gather before the luncheon begins. From left are Sandy Markwood Elliott, ’87; Danielle Howden, ’09; Linda Markwood Trammell, ’81; Michelle Howden, ’08; Claudia Markwood Howden, ’82. Betty Markwood is the mother of Linda, Claudia and Sandy; and grandmother to Danielle and Michelle (daughters of Claudia). |
The program included a welcome and opening prayer by Dr. Linda Samek, Corban Provost. Emcees Deleen Wills, Director of Alumni Services and Special Events, and Nancy Martyn, ’68, Dean of Adult Degree Programs, continued the program as attendees enjoyed lunch, musical entertainment, and testimonies by Corban seniors Tricia Breiter and Michelle Howden, the recipients of 2007-08 Scholarships. The women also had the opportunity to participate in a quilt auction and make individual contributions around their tables.
A portion of the $10,000 raised last Saturday included the sale of a queen-sized handmade quilt. It was made and donated by the “Sewing Seeds of Love” quilting group of Faith Baptist Church in Salem who named it “Loving Hearts.” The quilt brought in $1600 at auction, aided by the fast-talking skills of auctioneer LeRoy Hedberg, husband of Dr. Nancy Hedberg, Vice President of Student Life.
The luncheon was graced by the attendance of three College Presidents’ wives: Linda Hoff (wife of current president, Dr. Reno Hoff), Betty Balyo (wife of Dr. John Balyo), and Davina Younger (wife of Dr. Tom Younger who is now deceased).
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Musical entertainment was provided by Corban students Megan Brannen, Michael Butler, Joel Cruz, Michelle Howden, Don Leavitt, Johnathon Livingston, Christan Ross, Tim Saffeels, Melissa Seidler, Sarah Stroud and Brian Swearingen. Brenda Noland, ’95, accompanied on the piano and also performed in duo with Johnathon Livingston for a standing ovation rendition of the 3rd movement of Tchaikovsky’s Concerto for Piano.
Dr. Myra Brand, who attended the luncheon, wrote words to a musical “thank you” which was sung to the audience by student singers. Brand is an adjunct instructor in voice.
In years past, women volunteers have rallied under the name of Women for Western and supported projects outside the regular college budget such as stuffing envelopes and providing new mattresses for students.
More recent projects have grown to include new carpeting in hallways and stairwells at Aagard Residence Hall as well as two new pianos for music students.
Wills told the group on Saturday that over $425,000 of contributions have been raised in the forty-one years since the beginning of what is now Corban Connection. She added that the goal of $25,000 for 2007-08 was met early this year on February 12, 2008.
Priscilla Fischbacher, who teaches developmental education at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, has been involved with Corban Connection activities from stuffing envelopes for mailings to serving on the committee to select scholarship recipients. After the luncheon she shared, “I’m committed to education and enjoy the privilege of being involved in education. I especially like the Christian college setting. I found it very beneficial during my two years of Bible college and have always been grateful for it.”
Pauline Newell of Scio, Oregon has attended Corban Connection luncheons for the past six years. “I’ve enjoyed it each year,” she said. “I don’t mind contributing. It’s a great cause.”
The amount donated on Saturday places the funds well on their way to the new goal of $25,000 for 2008-09. The funds will be used to purchase risers for the music department, install a staircase from the parking lot to the Psalm Center and fund six student scholarships.
