Commencement Speaker in the Running
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Graduate Christina Reasner |
Christina Reasner, Northwest University’s 2004 student commencement speaker, was crowned Miss Alaska on Saturday, June 12. She is now preparing to compete in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City in September. Reasner’s duties as Miss Alaska include hosting politicians and dignitaries visiting Alaska and representing Alaska at other state pageants, including Washington State’s pageant on July 2-3. For more about Christina's responsibilities as Miss Alaska, visit the Miss Alaska Pageant web site.
Reasner, a native of Sterling, Alaska, was selected by faculty and students to give the student address at the Northwest University Commencement on May 8. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication. She said about her opportunity to speak at the University’s Commencement, “It is an incredible honor, and I feel very privileged. I think this is an outcome of my determination and dedication to my academic career.”
While studying at Northwest University, Christina Reasner competed with Northwest University’s award-winning debate team. She spent a semester at Oxford University through the Oxford University Honors Program. Reasner also interned at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington D.C. last summer while participating in the WINS (Washington Internships for Native Students) Emerging Leaders program.
Reasner plans to pursue Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctorate degrees. Her future goals include practicing law and becoming involved in politics on the national level. She is also interested in missions and hopes to support children’s homes in third world countries.
Reasner’s parents, Reverend Robert and Pollyanne Reasner pastor Abundant Life Assembly of God in Sterling, Alaska. Reasner’s younger sister, Charity, is a junior at Northwest University.
Northwest University, located in Kirkland, Wash., offers more than 50 undergraduate academic programs, including nursing, teacher education, business, psychology, and church ministries. There are two B.A. degrees for adult learners, in Organizational Management and Ministry Leadership, as well as two graduate programs, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.).
Reflecting the expansion of the University’s academic programs, the Northwest University Board of Directors voted recently to change the name of the institution to Northwest University. The name change will be implemented in January of 2005.