Right place, right time Kevin Garber – no stranger to MNU – is back on campus, now as Director of Alumni Relations


Kevin Garber (’89) left MNU after graduation, but a love for his alma mater never did. On April 1, 2010, Kevin completed a journey that led him from active student to involved alumnus to staff member.


“I have always been grateful to MNU,” Garber says about his


consideration of the Alumni Director position. “I thought, ‘what a privilege it would be to serve my fellow classmates.’”


Garber’s background helped him emerge as the right person for alumni director. He’s served in a variety of capacities, from the MNU Board of Trustees and the Kansas City District Naza- rene International Youth Council, to convention coordinator for the Nazarene Missions International quadrennial conference. He has been in sales and client relationship development since graduation. He’s also “right in the middle” of the age range for MNU alumni.


“That makes it easy for me to relate to both older and younger generations of Pioneers,” Garber says.


In fact, Garber wants to focus on building and enhancing re-


lationships with alumni in order to widen and deepen the MNU alumni base. Studies show that’s a key factor in any university’s overall capacity for creating friends and raising funds.


“My vision for alumni director is to be out there getting to know alumni and building relationships,” he says.


MNU Remembers Don Eby


MNU friend Donald Mack Eby passed away March 25, 2010, following a long illness. To some MNU faculty, staff and stu- dents, Don Eby’s legacy exists only as a name on the Eby build- ing across from the campus in University Office Park. To those who knew him, however, he was someone whose success in life was matched by his personal determination to help the world around him.


His ability to see a need and create a solution resulted in the


emergence of Bickford Senior Living Centers, named for his mother-in-law, Mary Bickford, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Bickford Senior Living has 42 branches in seven states.


The world that concerned him also included MidAmerica Nazarene University.


“Don was a soft-spoken, yet strong Christian, faithful husband, loving father, committed church member, successful business leader and generous philanthropist,” says President Ed Robinson.


Director of Development Todd Garrett grew up with Joe Eby, one of Don’s sons.


MNU Giving Update


Supporting Christian higher education isn’t the only benefit of giving to MNU. Charitable Gift Annuity interest rates are in- creasing July 1. See back cover for more information or call MNU.


Summer 2010 | Accent magazine | 17


That is one aspect already coming true. On June 1, MNU Alumni Relations hosted an “MNU Alumni Night at the Royals,” with more than 100 alumni, friends and their fami- lies attending.


If such plans sound ambi-


tious, it’s because they are. Yet knowing Garber’s background and abilities, it’s clear that he has the enthusiasm for imple- mentation.


As a student at MNU, Gar-


ber was senior class president, served with Associated Student Government all four years, performed with the Heritage Choir, and served as yearbook editor, twice, among other roles.


He and his wife, Shawna (Gafford, ’95), have two sons: Mat- thew, 8, and Michael, 6.


“My boys’ anticipation of their own days at MNU creates a sense of pride as a parent,” Kevin says. “I hope to instill that in numerous alumni families.”


“Don was a gifted and talented visionary leader who managed his family, his work, and his Christian walk with excellence,” Garrett says. “He was not only well respected for his business knowledge but for his compassionate spirit.”


Don Eby is survived by his wife, Judie, three sons, Mike (’91), Joe (’95) and Andy, and their


families, and his brother Richard.


A native of Newton, Kan., Don’s career started with Sisco Equipment, where he worked his way from salesman to presi- dent over the next 20 years. Eby led the company’s expansion to Kansas City and later moved its corporate to Olathe. He retired from Sisco in 1991.


In 2005, Don Eby was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and


true to his nature, he fought the cancer with the signature Eby determination. At his funeral, a declaration from his employees seemed to sum up how much Don Eby will be missed.


“Without our fearless leader, our noble and mighty warrior, Don


Eby, Bickford would never have become a reality. He fought for us be- fore we even existed … He is the strength that keeps us going forward.”


Phone: (877) 496-8668 or e-mail: foundation@mnu.edu.


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