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Neil Thomas (BA 2013) described his undergraduate experience to be “much more about understanding who I was and building relationships, than it was about the classes that I attended.” Although he recognized that the goal of coming to university was higher education, at Grebel, Neil found that it was “also a really good opportunity and point in somebody's life to figure out who they are, and how they can become a functioning adult in the community.” This is a lesson he took to heart, as he now assists others through some of the most difficult and critical moments of their lives, working as a Crisis and Outreach Clinician in Oxford County for the Canadian Mental Health Association of Thames Valley. 

Mark Diller Harder (BA 1989) is a pastor at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. In preparation for ministry, Mark studied at Canadian Mennonite Bible College, the University of Waterloo, and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. His journey with pastoral ministry has been extensively rewarding, as he found acceptance and kinship in many diverse communities, including Welcome Inn Community Centre and Church, the Men’s Hostel at House of Friendship, Stirling Ave. Mennonite Church, First Mennonite Church, and St Jacobs Mennonite Church. Mark has a deep connection to music, holding an Associate of Music in Piano Performance. He also sings with and is currently President and Assistant Director of Menno Singers. 

Connor Huxman (BASc 2020) is a PhD candidate at Penn State University, conducting research and innovating new designs for orthopedic implants. His time studying biomedical engineering and visual art at the University of Waterloo, together with his medical device industry co-op placements, has helped launch a career in orthopedics engineering. He has since participated in, and won, international pitch competitions, and is leading the entrepreneurial efforts of his research. In his free time, Connor enjoys traveling with his fiancée, both internationally and through road trips in their converted camper truck across North America.

Staying focused on values learned at Grebel, Panteli Tritchew (BA 1979, MA 1981) has built community in the classroom and boardroom throughout his teaching career. After a number of corporate jobs in technical writing, Panteli spent the remainder of his career as an educator and administrator in communications at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia. He credits the Grebel experience for igniting his enthusiasm for learning and inspiring his desire to effect change. 

By integrating traditional and modern forms of music, Reverend Jacqui Foxall has helped foster a welcoming, collaborative community at Knox Presbyterian Church in Oakville. After experiencing a eureka moment as a young adult, Jacqui discovered her vocational call to become a minister and enrolled in Grebel’s Honours Music and Religious Studies program with a specialization in Church Music and Worship. Integrating her musical knowledge to augment God’s message drives Jacqui in her work and helped her grow alongside the Knox church community. Jacqui’s has retained her Grebel roots as she works toward a Conflict Management Certificate. 

Gordon Campbell is a lifelong contributor to the world of English literature with expertise in John Milton and the history of the Bible. Over the course of his career, he has accumulated numerous awards, been granted more than a dozen academic fellowships, been elected to the British Academy, and edited the 400th Anniversary Edition of the King James Bible upon which King Charles III swore his oath. He lived at Grebel in 1964, the first year of the College’s existence. His greatest fulfillment comes from his long-lasting marriage, three children, and six grandchildren. 

The RJ Specialization is open to all Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) Major students looking to pursue an in-depth study of alternative, non-conventional responses to societal harms and injustices, as well as solutions to harms experienced by individuals or groups in schools, faith communities, or social settings. The RJ Diploma is available to all University of Waterloo students enrolled in a degree program or any non- or post-degree academic plan. 

On April 14, Conrad Grebel University College welcomed family, friends, staff, and faculty to celebrate one of the most anticipated events of the year: Convocation. As students approached the last of their exams and assignments, they took the afternoon to congratulate each other on the completion of their many exams, assignments, and papers and to cherish the countless relationships developed over their time at university.  

“The most fulfilling aspect of my career and personal life is experiencing God’s love and wisdom through his Son, Jesus Christ," said KyongJung Kim, a Mennonite pastor who serves at two churches and also works as a school bus driver for students with disabilities in the Waterloo Region. His spiritual awakening occurred after meeting Anabaptist Christians in Winnipeg from 1994 to 1997. Since then, he has continued his journey with Jesus and has remained committed to his faith no matter where life takes him.

“It has always fascinated me how beautiful and vast the universe is and how little we know about it,” said Angelica Lee, a fourth-year Accounting and Financial Management student at the University of Waterloo. Angelica, who lived at Grebel for two terms, was recently nominated for the Student Leadership Category for the Women’s Aerospace Network. The award highlights the contributions of students who demonstrate exemplary leadership qualities that enrich campus life and leave a lasting impact. Not only is this a remarkable feat on its own, but Angelica is also a non-Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) student and is the only Canadian student nominee in this year’s competition. Her perseverance, self-determination, and love for space are inspirations to students pursuing unconventional career pathways.