Year in Review

Winner: Renae Maganza

FINANCE ’21

Maganza was captain of the 2019 women’s volleyball team as they won the conference championship. She also served as Scholar for the House of Queen Elizabeth I, as a faculty assistant in both business and finance, and as part of the Ambassador Society.

Nominees: Pavel Goz (Humanities ’21), Edvin Loefgren (Business Management ’21), Serena Tuomi (JCS ’21)

Winner: Edvin Loefgren

BUS ’21

Loefgren was a USCAA First Team All-American who helped lead the men’s soccer team to the 2018 USCAA National Championship playoffs. He was a team leader in both the 2020 Global CapSim competition and the Global Case Competition at Harvard University, and also served as a faculty assistant in finance.

Nominees: Corinne Boonstra (Business Management ’21), Bailey Kaufman (Business Management ’21), Renae Maganza (Finance ’21)

Winner: Shá Sanders

RTS ’21

Sanders was awarded the Student Service award for her leadership, service, and prayer for her fellow classmates. She sacrificed for the good of King’s and displayed an earnestness for everything on campus.

Nominee: Micah Long (Humanities ’21)

Winner: Jonathan Sheaffer, Director of Student Development

Sheaffer was honored for his outstanding service to the House System. Student Body President Colin Philips presented the award to Shaeffer as a symbol of the students’ last goodbye and appreciation for his work as the assistant director of student life.

Nominee: David Leedy, Vice President of Student Development and Dean of Students

Winner: Andrea Lopez

Director of Student Services

Lopez was awarded the Staff Member of the Year award for her exemplary service to the college, hard work in helping the campus adjust to COVID-19, and dedication in all of her responsibilities in student development.

Nominees: Jonathan Sheaffer, Director of Student Development; David Leedy, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students; Megan Dishman, Chief of Staff

Winner: Steele Brand

Associate Professor of History

Brand received the Faculty of the Year award for his care and concern for the students’ spiritual lives. He hosted weekly prayer nights for the student spiritual leaders and prayed over the students every night.

Nominees: Dr. Dru Johnson, Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies; Dr. Dami Kabiawu, Associate Professor of Finance; Dr. Anthony Bradley,Professor of Religious Studies

Winner: Dr. Robert Carle

Professor of Theology

Carle was recognized for his hard work to build and maintain a sense of energy and connection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then Provost Dr. Hijleh shared, “Dr. Carle proposed and hosted a mini series of virtual conferences featuring faculty on topics around the pandemic that drew hundreds of viewers. He also conceived of and hosted a weekly gathering for faculty over lunch, a simple but important way to gather faculty to discuss topics large and small.”

Nominees: Dr. Henry Bleattler, Associate Professor of History and the Humanities; Dr. Matthew Parks, Chief Academic Officer

Winner: Andrea Lopez

Director of Student Services

Lopez was commended by President Gibson for her leadership of student services, as the staff advisor to The Table, and as the House advisor to the House of Sojourner Truth.

Nominees: Brittin Ward, Director of Operations; Yulian Almonte, Senior Porter

Winner: Dr. Mark Hijleh

Vice President for Academic Administration and Dean of the Faculty

Hijleh was recognized for his superb leadership over the last year, as he pursued new innovations and had a calming effect on King’s. He also excelled in developing a strong sense of community among the faculty and building a strong coalition between professors.

Nominee: Katelyn Tamm, Director of Strategic Engagement and Partnerships

Winner: Grace McBride

ENG ’21

McBride was presented the MCA Academic Excellence award for her outstanding work in Media, Culture and the Arts, both inside and outside of the classroom.

Nominee: Annabel Hutchinson (MCA ’21)

Winner: Olivia Bolling

MCA ’21

Bolling was given the MCA Capstone Award for her work on an original screenplay entitled, “The Passion of Synthia Peddler.”

Nominee: Nadja de Sá (MCA ’21)

Winner: Micah Long

HUM ’21

Long was recognized for his excellence in the Humanities and for his gifts that could translate to a wide variety of fields, whether attending film school or leading a classical school.

Nominee: Arianna Haynes (Humanities ’21)

Winner: Catie Shoemaker

PPE ’21

Shoemaker was presented with this award due to her academic excellence in her PPE classes and her commitment to Christian character.

Nominee: David Hancock (PPE ’21)

Winner: Serena Tuomi

JCS ’21

Tuomi distinguished herself as a student journalist, excelling in both her academic work and her in-person reporting, specifically through her love of food journalism.

Nominees: River Bell (JCS ’21), Gabriela Kressly (JCS ’21), Shannon Mason (JCS ’21)

Winner: Shannon Mason

JCS ’21

Mason was recognized for her reporting ability and her commitment to leading and mentoring other student journalists with a generosity of energy, humor, and time. She also was editor-in-chief of the Empire State Tribune, while also interning at NBC News and Rolling Stone Magazine during her time at King’s.

Nominees: Gabriela Kressley (JCS ’21), Njeri McPherson (MCA ’21), Liza Vandenboom (Humanities ’21)

Winner: Noelle Hale

FIN ’21

Hale was recognized as a terrific representative of The King’s College, a shining example of a motivated and disciplined student who has excelled in the classroom and the workplace.

Nominees: Edvin Loefgren (Business ’21), Renae Maganza (Finance ’21), Whitney Winn (Business ’21)

Winner: Renae Maganza

FIN ’21

Maganza was presented with this award for her exceptional intelligence, integrity, and a willingness to invest in others. She was co-captain of the women’s volleyball team and participated in the Meraki Business program.

Nominees: Noelle Hale (Finance ’21), Edvin Loefgren (Business ’21)

Winner: Deborah Gonçalves

PPE ’21

Gonçalves was recognized for being a force for excellence and service since she arrived at King’s. She displayed an attitude of hard work while taking a vested interest in everyone who crossed her path, passionately serving others and rooting for them to succeed.

Nominees: Koby Jackson (Humanities ’21), Tia McCord (Humanities ’21), Serena Tuomi (JCS ’21)

Winner: Koby Jackson

HUM ’21

Jackson won this award because of his servant heart, love for youth, and a passion for influencing others for Jesus. He volunteered to tutor academically disadvantaged youth in NYC, and as student body president, mobilized King’s students to serve others and invest in the city.

Nominees: Elaina Bals (English ’21), Hannah Coston (PPE ’21), Lauren Pannell (Business ’21)

Winner: Micah Long

HUM ’21

Long was recognized for his faithful service to his King’s classmates, as first the competition coordinator for Interregnum, and then the chair. He also supported the scholarly work of King’s professors with his professionalism and commitment to excellence.

Nominees: Jan Gerber (PPE ’21), Jennifer Ingraham (MCA ’21), Liza Vandenboom (Humanities ’21)

Ashley (PPE ’07) and Mark Thorne (Business ’07)

Cofounders and Directors of Operations of M&A Consultants and Advisors

Both Ashley and Mark received over ten years of mentorship from King’s professors. Distinguished Visiting Professor Philip J. Clements brought Mark on to help found Cathedral Consulting and the two worked together closely until Phil’s passing in 2015, after which Mark became CEO. Former King’s Provost Dr. Peter Wood worked with Ashley when she headed up Interregnum 2007, and subsequently brought her on staff with the National Association of Scholars, where she served as executive director. The Thornes shared, “We are incredibly thankful to our mentors for the generous care and kindness they gave us.” Today, Ashley and Mark provide financial and operational guidance, and Merger & Acquisition support to privately owned businesses and nonprofits as they head up their own firm, M&A Consultants and Advisors. Additionally, Mark is Executive Director of Buckle’s credit business, providing credit to the gig economy.

Trevor Baier (BUS ’14)

Senior Capital Markets Consultant at Capco

At work, Trevor helps financial institutions execute large-scale transformations, design and implement new technology platforms, and reduce risks inherent to their business models. At home, he is preparing both to compete in his first triathlon and to welcome his first child early next year. “In both my professional and personal life, the two themes that tie everything together are serving others and fighting entropy. Whether through increasing educational opportunities by mentoring high school students, serving through my church, or setting aside the time to be a present husband and father, my mission is to follow Christ in His mission to transform lives and renew all things.”

Heather Cate (MCA ’15)

Office Manager and Executive Assistant at Proven Ministries

Heather helps Proven Ministries to partner with churches, families, and individuals in order to help people find freedom from sexual addiction through spiritual disciplines and intimacy with Jesus. Towards that aim, Heather works with a team of five people to shape the future of the organization and to ensure the ministry runs smoothly. Heather said, “I wouldn’t have my job if I hadn’t taken Human Sexuality with Dr. Talcott. In that class, I became passionate about sexual ethics. And because I now work in the non-profit sector addressing the hyper-sexualization of our culture, I see direct correlation and fruit.”

Jeremy Cerone (PPE ’13)

External Relations Senior Advisor at AJB Home Rentals | Advanced English Presentations Coach to Foreign Clients

Jeremy counsels AJB Home Rentals on strategy, engagement, and advocacy at the federal, state, and city levels. He also coaches legal professionals to help them improve their job performance with presentation skills. But some of his most meaningful contributions happen in his personal time, when he teaches English to students in Myanmar, participates with his local chapter of the Betania Foundation international prayer ministry, and raises money for AlphaCare, a free Christian pregnancy resource center in Philadelphia. “My work endeavors provide me with the resources and schedule flexibility to contribute to God’s restoration of the world, mostly in ways beyond my day jobs.”

Ryan Chambers (Business ’07)

Director of Global Expansion for PureCycle Technologies, a NASDAQ listed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) recycling company

PureCycle Technologies converts waste polypropylene (plastic) back to ultra-pure, virgin-like polypropylene. Ryan oversees supply chain and site selection. “I see what we do as restoring nature to its intended state and ending decades of pollution that will do irreversible harm if left unchecked.” Regarding his King’s education, Ryan said. “It was a suite of experiences so rich, beautiful, certainly challenging, but so constructive that it follows me everywhere I go. Looking back, I see how the rigor, the novel experience, the relationships, and the dialogue on the great ideas gave me a framework to view the world.”

Grace (Croley) Ellenberg (MCA ’17)

Project Manager at Useful Group | Photographer at Ellenberg & Co. | Grad student at Auburn University studying Industrial-Organizational Psychology

As a project manager at a digital marketing agency, Grace works with her team on content and marketing strategies. And as the founder of Ellenberg & Co., she spends her weekends and evenings photographing weddings, couples, and families. After that, she spends her free time reading and writing for her grad program. Grace credits King’s for the foundational knowledge she needed for her various endeavors. “From my Western Civilization class with Loconte, to Marketing with Fotopulos, to Arts and Ideas with Bleattler—my classes gave me a deeper understanding of the world and greater thought into being a business owner. My time working at King’s cultivated my love of developing people which set me on the course to grad school.”

Alexandra Harrison Gaiser (PPE ’12)

Director of Regulatory Affairs at River Financial

Alexandra works at a Bitcoin brokerage and custody service as an in-house lawyer. While Bitcoin barely existed when she graduated, King’s still provided the broad perspective on the world that equipped Alexandra to understand Bitcoin and explain it to diverse audiences. “I do a lot of finding the right analogy to something old so people can properly understand something new—that’s definitely a skill King’s taught me.” When it comes to her King’s education, her study of economics fed into why she finds Bitcoin compelling. “Proverbs and the Pentateuch are full of verses about how God hates dishonest weights and measures. Bitcoin is fundamentally about having an honest weight and measure that can’t be corrupted or controlled.”

Joseph Holmes (PPE ’16)

Direct Support Professional at Life’sWORC | Film critic and culture writer for Religion Unplugged | Independent filmmaker

Joseph works at Life’sWORC and Family Center for Autism where he helps facilitate an independent living experience for people with intellectual disabilities and autism. His work with residents includes grooming, playing games, feeding, resolving conflicts, and helping them to bed. During his time off, Joseph serves as a host on a podcast he co-founded called The Overthinkers, or spends time writing his next film screenplay or culture piece. “King’s exposed me to resources and habits for engaging with the world of ideas and of people—and pushed me to excel in both. I use these in my life now, whether it’s navigating relationships at work or in my creative projects.”

Carly Kashmanian (PPE ’15)

Wife and Mother | Journalist

Carly is at home full-time with her two sons—and a third baby on the way. “Raising my children is a life-long dream realized, and though it’s the hardest job I’ve ever had, I’m grateful God saw me fit for the task.” Carly credits her time at King’s for solidifying the values with which she was raised, while also bolstering her courage to defend those principles in the media (i.e., TheBlaze, Faithwire, CatholicVote, Theology of Home, etc.) and within the four walls of her home. “I seek to teach my children ‘the art of living well’ so that no matter what direction their studies lead, they will be equipped to love and serve.”

Penelope Morgan (PPE ’10)

Director of Hephzibah House in New York

Penelope manages Hephzibah House—a hospitality ministry in a Victorian brownstone on the Upper West Side where she lives with her husband Andy and their three kids. With 15 rooms, Hephzibah House primarily provides guest housing for people in vocational ministry who are traveling to New York City. The House also serves as a community center for ministries to use for events, classes, and meetings. “For humans, as embodied beings, places are very powerful,” Penelope reflects. “For the Christian, the purpose of keeping a beautiful home is to honor others and remind them of their status as God’s precious ones. Our hospitality ministry is meant to give whoever passes through our doors a taste of God’s delight over them.” She says that her time at King’s “gave me a head start building a network of believers in the city and a sense for how God is working here.”

J.P. Pressley (MCA ’19)

Assistant Editor at Manifest | Writer, Freelance Filmmaker | MFA in Writing from Lindenwood University

J.P. spends his workdays with Manifest—a premier content marketing agency—focusing on content creation for a Fortune 200 client. This can entail either developing ideas to pitch or working with other departments to deliver what’s been approved. After hours, J.P. works with entertainment industry professionals on independent writing and film projects. “I’m not just a content creator—I’m a gatekeeper. Just as I pitch and cultivate content via angles that can calibrate what I believe to be the skewed moral compass of America, I am uniquely positioned to ensure ideas that do the opposite never see the light of day.”

Daiya Malone (Humanities ’20)

MA Art History Student at American University Studying 13th to 17th Century European Art

“My King’s education gave me the tools to view my life and the lives of other people through the lens of the human experience and all that it entails.” Daiya is building on those tools by continuing her academic studies at American University in Washington, D.C., where her graduate research in art history explores the representation of women in Christianity. She plans to explore gender roles within the church as well as women’s implicit and explicit sacrifices in leadership. “My research will be an attempt to work in the spirit of reconciliation and encourage others to celebrate God’s creations in all of their differences.”

Kyra Rooney (English ’19)

Production Assistant at Sotheby’s Art Auction House

During her time at King’s, Kyra explored modeling, fashion public relations, waitressing in Grand Central Station, as well as writing for National Review. Following the path that her growing interests led, she eventually landed a job at Sotheby’s. In her role as production assistant within the valuations department, Kyra creates appraisals for clients (i.e., fair market value, private sale, auction estimate, insurance, etc.) and comprehensive descriptions for clients’ art and valuable items. “My job allows me to be a tiny part of the preservation of history and culture. I feel connected to the past and excited for the trajectory of art.”