From childhood, Jordan Frazier planned to be a missionary. She told her family that when she left for distant lands, they would probably say goodbye to her forever. The salutatorian for Mid-America Christian University (MACU) December 2011 graduating class still has her sights on missions work, but now her mission field is across town in an Oklahoma City area elementary school classroom.

Frazier points to a cataclysmic event as dramatically shaping the direction of her life. In December of her freshman year at MACU, her only sibling, a brother, died in an accident. Frazier was crushed.

"It threw my whole world upside down," she said. "Words cannot describe how much turmoil my family went through. He died during Christmas break, and I really questioned whether I was supposed to come back to school. I felt so incapable. I remember coming back to class in January, and all I could do was cry. I thought, 'I can't do this.'"

But she did, and she credits her fellow students with giving her the courage to persevere with her education.

"Students and professors were walking up to me and addressing me by name and saying, 'We don't know you, but we're praying for you. We just want to encourage you that the steps you're taking to stay in school are hard, but they are wise.' That's when the Lord began preparing me to serve His kingdom in ways I couldn't imagine."

The following summer, she spent a month traveling with Mid-America camp teams, and received a tough assignment the first week. She would lead a creative writing workshop for children.

"I thought it was crazy," Frazier said. "I'd never taught anything in my life. And at a summer camp, kids don't want to sit down and write. But as I was preparing and planning, I became excited about working with these students. Then I saw the kids' response to the strategies I used to get them engaged in nature, and how they were responding through writing. It was very invigorating for me."

Frazier's parents had often told her she could be an excellent teacher. Now she began to consider it as well. After extensive prayer and discussing her career options with her closest friends and family, she began to sense God saying, "You're going to serve in the Kingdom, but it's not going to look like you thought it would. I'm going to use you through teaching."

As a sophomore, she changed her major to teacher education, and she's never looked back. Now, as a student teacher, Frazier can see many different ways a teacher can minister to the children in her life. She also knows how children can be used to teach lessons to adults. During her last semester of student teaching this fall, one small friend reminded her to focus on ministry in the moment.

"I was working with a little guy who lives in a homeless shelter," Frazier said "From the first day my heart went out to him. He had not had the same opportunities I had as a child. And he's so obedient and such a perfect student that he blends into the background."

One day, she noticed that his shoes were untied, and she asked him to tie them. He bent down and fumbled with the laces. A few minutes later, they were untied again. After four reminders, she stopped to focus on the problem and to make sure he followed through.

"I made myself stop and watch him. He picked up one shoestring and then he stopped and froze and stared at me. At that moment, reality hit me. I'm called to minister to children. I'm not there to develop perfect management strategies and structure everything. The child doesn't know how to tie his shoes. He's eight years old, and he can't perform a skill that he's going to need the rest of his life. So I made the decision to stand there however long it took to teach him to tie his shoe. And it took about ten minutes. It might seem simple, but the fact that his shoes are going to be tied for the rest of his life means the world to me. That small bit of confidence he may have gained will help him become something he might not have been. And I am intentional about making sure he knows that I am aware of him. I think the Lord was showing me something that was so simple, but so profound. By helping children, I am showing them that they are valuable; they are worth something. It was a small, but meaningful moment that confirmed for me that this is what I'm supposed to do. It's the shoe-tie moments that I want for the rest of my career."

At Mid-America Christian University, teaching is not only a profession, it's a calling. To find out more about how you can prepare for a career teaching call 888.888.2341.

Oklahoma City, Okla., December 12, 2011 - Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb brought the commencement address to graduates, guests and visitors attending the 60th commencement exercises of Mid-America Christian University (MACU) on Saturday, December 10, 2011. University President John Fozard presided over the ceremonies.

In his address, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb encouraged the graduates to stay in Oklahoma and make a difference for their communities. "This is the perfect time to be a graduate of an Oklahoma school," Lamb said. "Today Oklahoma is rapidly becoming a state of excellence: a place to be for, not to be from. Today we have an NBA franchise in Oklahoma City, a rebirth in the oil and gas industry, thriving medical centers, and new investments in high-tech companies. These are all examples of a new vision, a new opportunity, a new state. Oklahoma is open for business."

Dr. Kathaleen Reid-Martinez, Vice President for Academic Affairs, recognized this year's outstanding students. April Hale of Weatherford, Okla., was named class valedictorian, and Jordan Frazier of Moore, Okla., was named salutatorian. Awards for outstanding research projects went to Jennifer Jones and Wendy Short.

In another highlight of the afternoon, President John Fozard presented honorary degrees to two Oklahoma City leaders that he called, "titans of the business world and regarded members of the community of faith," The Honorable Russell M. Perry and Rev. John A. Reed, Jr.

Fozard stated that it's the practice of the Board of Trustees to periodically honor people whose lives reflect the qualities, virtues, and professional achievements that they desire to see MACU students emulate. Fozard noted that such was the case with Perry and Reed who both reflected the university's deeply held commitments to, "The pursuit of knowledge, devotion to God, and service to our fellowman, especially to the "least of these."

Fozard paid tribute to Perry and Reed saying, "They are not only public servants, but also servant leaders... champions of their causes and political parties, but even more so, champions of the community of faith, and of the African-American community." Perry was awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters and Reed was awarded the Doctor of Divinity.

Spring commencement for Mid-America Christian University is scheduled for May 5, 2012.

Mid-America Christian University is an accredited liberal arts college serving 2,050 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies through both online and on-campus programs. MACU has two Oklahoma City locations: The MACU main campus at 3500 SW 119th St. in Oklahoma City, and the MACU north location at 11600 N. Broadway Ext. Degree programs for adult learners are available 100% online.

For the third straight year, Mid-America Christian University (MACU) has received the Champions of Character Five-Star Award from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

The NAIA Champions of Character program is designed to instill an understanding of character values in sports by promoting the NAIA core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.

To receive the Five-Star award, member schools must earn 60 or more points on the Champions of Character Scorecard by promoting the virtues of good conduct in competition, academic focus, character recognition, and character promotion. Institutions help earn points based on a variety of accomplishments ranging from exceptional student-athlete grade point averages to obtaining zero ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.

The Champions scorecard helps schools work toward measurable goals and monitor progress toward advancing character-driven intercollegiate athletics.

"In today's complex college athletic environments — where success is sometimes only measured by wins and losses — strengthening effective athletic departments and leadership is key to advancing character - driven intercollegiate athletics," said Kristin Gillette, NAIA Director of Champions of Character.

By virtue of being a Christian university, Mid-America athletes are already committed to exhibiting these core values. The NAIA program reinforces these values and publically recognizes the athlete's efforts.

MACU Campus Minister Brian Marlett points out that the Five-Star designation honors not only the athletic department, but also the school as a whole. MACU non-athletes can help the university win points by participating in Champion of Character events. Athletes and other students often work together on mission projects around town or overseas, for example. Staff and faculty can also earn points by discussing the Champion of Character program when they promote the university. When the Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsors an event to discuss Christian ethics and principles, non-athletes participate and learn. These activities are a natural part of faith-based life at MACU, and they also are recognized through the Five-Star program.

"It's a high honor for us," Marlett said, "because it's not just about winning or being competitive, it's really about being a Christ-centered, Christ-driven, Christ-focused university."

Assistant Athletic Director Charles Goar agrees. "We live by our mission statement at Mid-America," Goar said, "and we try to recruit the type of athletes who will adhere to the mission statement. That really helps."

The university also has recently honored four athletes as MACU champions of character. Throughout the academic year, one athlete from each sport who has demonstrated exceptional character is recognized by coaches in front of the student body during a chapel service. In May, the coaches choose one athlete from those honored as the Champion of Character for the school year. The fall recipients are: James Wiginton for golf, Bertha Fajardo for women's soccer, John Gonsalves for men's soccer, and Calle Solie for women's volleyball.

In April 2012, the conference will also recognize President John Fozard and Athletic Director Willie Holley at the NAIA National Convention for the university's participation in the NAIA Champions of Character program.

"We get to exhibit those values through the NAIA and through our faith and the example it sets. It's a really neat thing to have. Not every program in the NAIA gets this. Some of the programs we already had in place, such as our community service and our outreach.

"This is something that was already in place, but this gives more structure to it. It fits nicely with our school's purpose and mission statement.

Oklahoma City, Okla., November 28, 2011 - President John Fozard and the Board of Trustees are pleased to announce the 60th Commencement Exercises of Mid-America Christian University (MACU) to be held Saturday, December 10, 2011, at 2:00 p.m.

The Honorable Todd Lamb, Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, will present the commencement address to graduates, guests and visitors, and the MACU academic community. During the exercises, degrees will be conferred upon 132 graduates representing 25 degree programs. Also during the ceremonies, honorary doctorates will be awarded to two distinguished Oklahoma City leaders: The Honorable Russell M. Perry and Rev. John A. Reed, Jr., who will be presented the Doctor of Humane Letters and Doctor of Divinity, respectively.

The Honorable Russell M. Perry launched the Perry Publishing Company with its first edition of The Black Chronicle in 1979. A weekly periodical servicing the Oklahoma City metro area's African American community, The Black Chronicle newspaper, has grown into one of the largest paid weekly newspapers in the state. In 1993, Perry formed the Perry Publishing & Broadcasting Company, Inc. (PPBC) when he purchased KVSP 1140 AM and made it the first urban-formatted radio station in Oklahoma City in well over a decade. Since that time, Perry has added over a dozen radio stations to PPBC, including a division of five stations in Georgia, and a TV program, The Urban Outlet, that is broadcast statewide throughout Oklahoma. In addition to being a business and media industry leader, The Honorable Russell M. Perry was also appointed by Gov. Frank Keating (1995-2003) to two cabinet positions: Oklahoma Secretary of Economic Development and Special Affairs (May 2000 - May 2001) and Oklahoma Secretary Of Commerce (1999 - 2000). Perry also holds controlling interest in the First Security Bank of Oklahoma City.

Rev. John A. Reed, Jr., has served more than 50 years as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Oklahoma, including 44 years pastoring Fairview Baptist Church. In June of 1974, Rev. Reed was elected President of the Oklahoma Baptist State Congress of Christian Education, a position he held until June 2000. In October 2000, Dr. Reed was elected President of the Oklahoma Baptist State Convention, a position he held until October 2009. In June 2008, Rev. Reed was made the 5th Vice President of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, an affiliate of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. This position was preempted in September 2009 when, during the 129th Annual Session of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., Rev. Reed was recommended for and unanimously accepted by the parent body to serve as one of five Vice Presidents for the 7.5 million member body. He was given the responsibility of leadership over the Western Region, presently constituted by the following states and territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and Washington. In addition to his ministry, in 2002, Rev. Reed, alongside friends and colleagues, launched The Oklahoma City Herald a progressive newspaper for the African American community that has become one of the most widely read weekly publications in Oklahoma. Rev. Reed serves as the Herald's editor.

President John Fozard explained why Perry and Reed were selected to receive these prestigious honorary awards: "These two men exemplify — through their lives and actions — the qualities and character that we embrace at Mid-America Christian University. It is our honor, our privilege to bestow these awards upon them in heartfelt recognition of their commitment to knowledge, to their devotion to God and the community of believers, and their faithful service to their fellow Oklahomans and beyond."

The 60th Commencement Exercises of Mid-America Christian University are open to the public and begin at 2:00 p.m. at Gaulke Activity Center on the university campus, 3500 SW 119th St., Oklahoma City, Okla. Seating is limited.