Angela, a 2008 Bethany graduate, works as a real estate loan assistant at Pioneer Bank and is also one of the founders and executive director of Lasting Imprint, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to raising awareness of congenital heart defects.
WHAT YOU DO • • • As executive director and one of the founders of Lasting Imprint, I work closely with 10 board members and manage 10 staff volunteers. Lasting Imprint is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to raising awareness of congenital heart defects, funding research, and assisting families. This organization serves the state of Minnesota and beyond its borders. I am involved in a variety of activities including event planning, fundraising, community outreach, and family support.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU • • • My daughter Hazel inspires me to appreciate every day and do as much with my life as she did with her 13 days here on earth.
HOW YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE • • • I hope to be the best mother and wife that I can be. I hope to live my life in a way that witnesses my faith to others. And lastly, I hope to make an impact in the area of early detection which will affect all expecting mothers in the state of Minnesota. One in 100 babies are born with a heart defect and finding these conditions during the routine 20-week ultrasound gives children a much greater chance of survival. It’s a chance Hazel never had and should have.
HOW BETHANY PREPARED YOU • • • Being able to attend Bethany was a blessing in ways I never could have imagined. Not only did I receive an excellent education, but my faith was nurtured and its foundation strengthened.
WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST • • • The amazing faculty! It became very clear to me as a freshman that my professors cared about helping me succeed. With the passing of each year, we got to know each other better and I realized that they weren’t just concerned about my education; they cared about me on a personal and spiritual level also. I am so grateful for the relationships I built while at Bethany that have continued to impact and support me to this day.
ADVICE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS • • • “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5,6)
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22,23)
Grades are nice but focus time and energy on the relationships with those around you. Be humble and seek to know more; love deeply and forgive easily.