This year at Homecoming & Family Weekend, we will be honoring five outstanding alumni with various awards. We are privileged to host them on campus during the weekend, while they interact with current and former students.
Alumna of the Year
Jacque (Cook '81) Cork | Jacque serves as the executive director for Dignity Freedom Network in Nampa, Idaho, a nonprofit that rescues and redeems trafficked children in India and other world areas and helps them toward a better life through school-based programs. An educator at heart, she taught middle school and high school students in Kansas for many years. She is married to Mark Cork ('81) and together they have three adult children.
Alumnus of the Year
Andrew Speicher ('98) | Andrew serves as an attorney at law and founding partner of MSB Law in Overland Park, a faith-based law firm specializing in business and corporate law, litigation, and personal injury. He previously served on the MNU Alumni Council for nine years, including a term as president. Andrew and his firm partner with The Barnabas Group KC and other local ministries to provide free legal services to women survivors of sex trafficking. Andrew also volunteers his time with the Volunteer Attorney Project (Legal Aid of Western Missouri), Unconventional Business Network, and the worship team at Westside Family Church. He is married to Jill (Wilkinson '96) and they have two teenage children.
Young Alum Award
A. Gordon "Gordie" Wetmore III ('13) | Gordie serves as the director of referee development for Kansas Youth Soccer, where he trains and mentors first-year soccer referees. He practices what he preaches by actively working youth soccer matches in the Kansas City metro area, as well as high school conference- and state-level competitions. In 2022, he was named Referee of the Year by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Carry the Torch Award
Michael ('76) and Denise (Wallace '76) Cork | Long-time music pastors, most recently at Olathe College Church of the Nazarene, Michael served as Executive Pastor and led worship with Denise until retiring in May 2023. They previously served as worship leaders at churches in California and Colorado over a 45-year career. They helped train and equip PR groups at MNU for several years, instilling a love for music and a desire to lead people into the presence of God through worship for generations of MNU students.
These individuals will be recognized at several events during Homecoming & Family Weekend, including Homecoming Chapel (where they will be introduced to the campus community), the Homecoming Celebration Breakfast, the Homecoming Football Game, and the Alumni Showcase (where we will formally present them with their respective awards).