The All-Access Pass includes a Homecoming shirt, entrance to all athletic events, access to Donuts with the DeMichaels, seats at the Homecoming Concert, dinner with the President & Senior Leadership Team, a bib for the Nighthawks 5K and much more!*
nnu.edu/homecoming
Dr. Al & Kitty (White) Jones
Class of 1960 & 1959 respectively
Dr. Al (’60) and Kitty (White) Jones (’59) dedicated their lives to the gospel through pastoral leadership, missionary service and global education, always with NNU close to their hearts. Though Dr. Al passed away recently, his legacy continues through the ministry he and Kitty shared for decades. After meeting at NNC, they married Kitty’s senior and Al’s junior year and stepped into ministry together.
Following pastoral appointments in Missouri and Idaho, their first missionary assignment took them to Sydney, Australia, where they served for nine years and raised their sons, David and Daniel. After pastoring in California, they accepted an invitation to Africa Nazarene University near Nairobi, Kenya, where Al became the founding Vice Chancellor, shaping the university’s growth and quality. Kitty chaired district missions, overseeing ministry to youth and Sunday School in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi.
They later served as field strategy coordinators in Ethiopia, then on special assignment in Perth, Australia. Even in “retirement,” their ministry never slowed—they led Bible studies, taught adult Sunday School for 20 years, mentored leaders, authored books and shared Christ personally with everyone they met. They were known for remembering names, offering prayer and building relationships that reflected Christ’s love.
NNU was always part of their journey. During every furlough, they returned to campus, served as Missionaries in Residence and shared life with students. Their sons recall these visits as times of joy and inspiration.
Because of their commitment to living out the gospel as creative and redemptive agents in the world, exemplifying the Christian ideals of the University, NNU is honored to present Dr. Al and Mrs. Kitty Jones with the 2025 Alumni of the Year Award. This award is presented posthumously to Dr. Al Jones, with his wife, Kitty, receiving the award in person on behalf of them both.
Tara (Watters) (’12) and Ben Heidegger (’12) arrived at NNU from very different backgrounds. Ben came after a difficult semester at another college, and Tara, a Nampa native, had grown up deeply connected to the NNU community through family, church and local events.
At NNU, Ben quickly stepped into leadership, serving in Student Government Association roles including Community Relations Coordinator and Campus Ministries Coordinator. These weren’t just titles—he planned a campus-wide community service day, created events raising awareness about justice issues and brought dynamic, thoughtful speakers to chapel and Time Out. Tara served as a Resident Assistant in Dooley Hall and was known for her quiet but intentional encouragement and support. Together, they cultivated relationships and made lasting contributions to campus life.
Both invested in service beyond the classroom. Ben joined the PALS club, building friendships with special needs students in the Nampa School District. Tara often assisted with SGA projects, wrote letters of encouragement to classmates and offered behind-the-scenes help wherever needed.
After graduation, the Heideggers entered full-time ministry, serving five years as youth pastors before two years on the mission field—one in rural Mexico learning Spanish and another in the Dominican Republic with Niños de la Luz, rescuing boys from the streets and giving them a safe place to grow up in Christ’s love.
Today, they lead Westside Compassionate Ministries—known as “The Yellow House”—in Medford, Oregon, a safe haven for children from low-income, mostly Hispanic families.
For their commendable accomplishments in their chosen field and for living out the values of NNU in all areas of their lives, NNU is pleased to present Tara and Ben Heidegger with the 2025 Leon Doane Young Alumni Award.
Rick Daniels (’74) came to NNC after a profound turning point in his life—recovering from partial paralysis at age 17 and committing his life to Christ. His years at NNC gave him not only a strong biblical foundation but also the greatest earthly gift—his wife, Nancy (Willett) Daniels (‘74), his partner in ministry for over 52 years.
After earning his BSN from Oregon Health & Science University, Rick worked in ICU care while completing his MS in Nursing as a Family Health Practitioner at the University of San Diego. He taught nursing at Point Loma Nazarene University for four years before earning his Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin. Over his 43-year career, Rick taught at Seattle Pacific University, Southern Oregon University and Oregon Health & Science University, retiring as professor emeritus from both SOU and OHSU.
Rick served 28 years in the U.S. Army. He served in the last U.S. M.A.S.H. unit, deployed to South Korea and Operation Desert Storm, and received multiple honors: Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, two Army Commendation Medals, an Army Achievement Medal and an Army Superior Unit Medal. Rick retired a Full Bird Colonel
Rick has served faithfully in various roles in every church he’s attended. His service to NNU has been equally impactful, including time on the Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee, the Presidential Search Committee and leadership in launching the University Medical Clinic—providing faithbased healthcare to the campus and community while funding scholarships for NNU students.
Because of his heart of service to the community of Northwest Nazarene University and his outstanding service through the years, NNU is recognizing Rick Daniels as the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.
From the soccer fields of NNC to his military service around the world, Sven Olson (’85) has built a career defined by innovation, service and a global reach. An early taste of entrepreneurship on NNC’s campus foreshadowed a career that would span education, technology and missions.
After graduation, Sven worked with Apple Computer and co-founded Ignite for Schools, a leadership, mentoring and character-building program that has reached over four million students nationwide. He has personally spoken to more than 500,000 students and mentored hundreds across the country. His military service, which began while he was still a student, became a mission field—carrying his faith into every post and using each opportunity to lead, encourage and serve those around him. His life’s work reflects a steadfast commitment to serving others with humility and purpose.
Sven’s global impact includes missions work in 87 countries, often documented with his whimsical travel companion, Kermit the Frog, as a way to connect and inspire. Today, he teaches in the College of Nursing and Healthcare Administration at Grand Canyon University, sponsors the Wounded Warrior Peer Support Group and mentors ROTC cadets—investing in the next generation of leaders with the same faith-centered values that shaped him at NNU.
He believes in building “generational experiences,” recently taking his granddaughter on her first caving adventure, a tradition born during his college years in the Kuna Caves. Reflecting on this award, he shared, “I hope this is a redemptive recognition of my desire to seek faith and servant leadership—and I pray NNU becomes a generational experience for my grandchildren.”
For his faithful service worldwide as a Christian professional, Sven Olson is the honored recipient of the 2025 Professional Achievement Award.
Each year, the NNU Athletics Hall of Fame honors former student-athletes whose excellence on the court and lasting impact beyond it have shaped the legacy of NNU athletics. This year, we celebrate two standout volleyball alumni—Cheri (Dailey) Taliaferro and Lisa (Erickson) Sliger—whose remarkable achievements continue to inspire the NNU community.
Cheri Taliaferro was a standout for NNC volleyball from 1992–95, helping lead the Crusaders to their first Cascade Conference title in 1994. That year she became one of the program’s first NAIA All-Americans, later earning First Team All-America recognition in 1995—one of just five in school history. She was also a two-time All-Region and All-Conference selection, Cascade Conference MVP in 1995, and was named HopkinsHumphrey Female Athlete of the Year in 1995–96.
Lisa Sliger was a cornerstone of NNC volleyball from 1996–99, helping lead the Crusaders to a program-best NAIA National Runner-Up finish in 1998. She earned First Team NAIA All-America honors in 1999—one of just five in school history—and was also a two-time All-Region and AllConference selection, Cascade Conference ScholarAthlete of the Year and member of the 1998 AllTournament Team.
November 8, 2025, 10:30 a.m. Brandt Center, Entrance "A"
You're warmly invited to a memorial bench dedication honoring beloved music faculty member, Dr. Marvin Stallcop, whose passion and decades of teaching profoundly shaped our campus community. Join us as we celebrate Dr. Stallcop's legacy of inspiration, creativity and the transformative power of music with reflections, remembrance and dedication in a place where music and connection continue to thrive.
Cheri remains among NNU’s all-time leaders in service aces, blocks and kills.
Cheri remains among NNU’s all-time leaders in service aces, blocks and kills.
Following graduation, she played beach volleyball in Manhattan Beach, coached high school volleyball and then launched into a diverse professional journey. Her career has included 12 years as a wildland firefighter and smokejumper, six years at the South Pole Station with the National Science Foundation, 15 years as an Idaho Realtor and more than two decades as a luxury jewelry designer with Sky Studio Luxe. In 2025, she also launched “Grit and Pixie Dust,” a keynote and coaching program for high-achieving women.
Cheri co-founded the Alliance for Improved Public Health in Africa in 2020 and lives in Salida, Colorado, with her husband and their two children, Jack and Abigail.
Statistically, Lisa remains one of the most dominant setters in program and Cascade Conference history. She is NNU’s all-time leader in assists (5,260), assists per set (11.60) and service aces (237), while ranking among the top 10 in digs, sets played and attack percentage. She also earned the Hopkins-Humphrey Female Athlete of the Year award in 1999–2000 and was a three-time recipient of the Bennett Volleyball Award.
After graduation, Lisa pursued a career in education and has spent more than two decades teaching elementary physical education and coaching volleyball, tennis and club sports across the Boise Valley. She and her husband Jared, former NNU head volleyball coach, live in Middleton with their two children, Paxton and Fletcher.
leader in assists
assists per set service aces 5,260 11.60 237
NOVEMBER 6
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NOVEMBER 8
website for specific College locations 9:30 - 10:30 a m
Journeys Basecamp Hangout
Conrad Commons 10:00 A M - 12:00 P M Journeys Basecamp
Dr. Marvin Stallcop Bench Dedication Brandt Center Entrance A 10:30 a m
Know a high school student that’s thinking about NNU? Would they like to take advantage of the $1,000 Visit Scholarship? Bring them to NNU’s Homecoming Weekend Visit Event!
Your student will get a firsthand look at student life on campus and discover if NNU is the right fit for them.
THE HOMECOMING WEEKEND VISIT EVENT WILL INCLUDE:
• Community chapel
• A tour of our beautiful campus
• Lunch in the dining hall
• Meet with an admissions counselor
• A chat with a professor in your area of interest
• A visit with Financial Aid (if needed)
• Sit in on a real college class
• Attend a basketball game
• Is your student a high school senior? Seniors are invited to stay the night in the residence halls Thursday night!
• Find out what makes NNU extraordinary
With all the added excitement of Homecoming, there’s no better time to see NNU at its best. It will be an encounter they’ll never forget.