The 2017 alumni awards were presented at the 50th Annual Partners for Progress event at the Depot Hotel in Minneapolis on Sept. 30, by North Central Alumni Board President, James Biffert ’95 (pictured above, center). This year’s honors went to Jamie McIntosh ’97 (pictured above, right) and Charis Wilson ’14 (pictured above, left).
Jamie McIntosh ’97
Frank J. Lindquist Award for demonstrating Spirit-filled leadership and excelling in service through church or church-related ministry, mission, and service.
Jamie McIntosh, a 1997 pastoral studies graduate, holds a Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law from Oxford University. He transitioned from being a youth minister to pioneering the Canadian chapter of International Justice Mission, an organization that empowers Christian lawyers, investigators, and social workers to fight human trafficking and modern slavery around the world.
In his current role as vice president of programming for World Vision Canada, he provides executive oversight of a $350M+ annual portfolio of programmatic commitments, policy and advocacy initiatives, and grant acquisition for the largest private relief and development agency in Canada, serving across 56 countries. McIntosh leans on his faith for his work, and speaks to the importance of reflection and prayer in justice work in this video.
Charis Wilson ’14
Ivan O. Miller Award for demonstrating Spirit-filled leadership and excelling in service through career and community.
Charis (Pirk) Wilson, a 2014 graduate of the School of Business, was hired by General Mills immediately upon graduation. She served on an analytics team where she was the only non-MBA, and was a marketing communications planner for the company’s Gogurt account, helping to raise sales by 30 percent.
She is now a senior marketing communications planner for the Yoplait line and manages a multi-million-dollar budget. She recently served as the liaison for a student marketing project, through which North Central students prepared and pitched complete marketing plans to General Mills staff for their Chex Cereal line. Wilson loves the Lord, serves her church and community, and gives back to North Central in the form of mentoring students and guest-speaking in classes.
New awards give nod to North Central history
The awards given to Wilson and McIntosh reflect a new selection process and new names.
Aimee (Perrin ’97) Robertson, administrator, Advancement, and alumni relations director, said this year represents the first time nominations were solicited from alumni and the NCU community. “We were so excited to learn about the great things our alumni are doing from a much broader group of people,” Robertson said. “The quality of nominations made it a difficult decision!”
After all nominations were reviewed by the North Central University Alumni Board, a list of candidates was sent to the Executive Council, which approved the final decision.
Also new this year are names for the awards. The Ivan O. Miller Award, named after Miller Hall’s namesake and former dean of the university, is now designated for an alumna or alumnus who has demonstrated excellence in career and community.
The Frank J. Lindquist Award, named after North Central’s founder and first president, will annually honor an individual alum who demonstrates excellence in church or church-related ministry, mission, and service.
Nominations for the 2018 awards will be open next spring and announced on northcentral.edu and via social media.
