Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2014

In the fall of 1992, I ran for Freshman Class President on a dare. I made a friendly wager with a few of my new friends that I’d get some laughs during my candidacy speech by making fun of my own name (“My name is Bowe Hoy — not to be confused with Boy Ho, Bo Howe, or Oh, Boy”). It got a few laughs … and got me into Student Government Association (SGA). Sometimes the best experiences in life are unexpected. When I enrolled at Cedarville, I had no plans of getting involved in SGA. It was not on my “Cedarville bucket list,” but God— as He often does — opened doors in surprising ways. And along the way, He used people and circumstances to teach me valuable lessons about leadership and life. As President, I hadmany opportunities to represent SGA and the student body in various capacities and functions. Often these included public functions, such as chapel service or other Cedarville- sponsored programs, but mostly it was less public and involved the “business” of student government. SGA meetings, such as Executive Council, Senate, and committees, committees, and more committees, filled my schedule. While I did not realize it at the time, managing a heavy schedule while getting important work done (e.g., my homework), helped prepare me for the realities of the corporate world. I also had opportunities to participate in Board of Trustees meetings, planning committees for new buildings or personnel searches, and other groups that requested student input. At times, it was intimidating to be the only student in a room full of “grown-ups.” But the Cedarville grown-ups displayed professionalism and grace, making the experience valuable for me. They even thankful for the gifts we have received, and I am confident God will provide for our needs in the upcoming semester. We have additional fundraisers planned this spring, including “Race to the Rescue” 5K and 10K events in April. When I came to Cedarville as a freshman, I was overwhelmed by all the opportunities to get involved. I gradually joined groups and activities during my first two years, but my junior year was when I really capitalized on leadership opportunities. I became interested in SGAby volunteering on the philanthropy committee that year, which fueled my passion for serving in this area. SGA has given me the opportunity to explore my leadership potential through working as a part of a team and leading my own team. This experience has also helped me clarify some of my hopes for my future. I came to Cedarville as a social work major intending to work one-on-one with clients. Through my leadership experiences and seeing the power of giving, I want to use my education to cause change on a larger scale. SGA helped me find my passions and discover a way to fuse social work and philanthropy together to further the Kingdom of God. Hilary Murphy ’14 is the Philanthropy Director for the Student Government Association. She is a social work major fromLiverpool, NewYork. For information on contributing to the GROW project, contact Hilary at sga@cedarville.edu. Learning About Leadership and Life by Bowe Hoy ’96 listened to my input, even though a lot if it probably wasn’t very good. Grace and professionalism — along with humility, integrity, and wisdom— is a fitting description of the man who had the most significant impact on me during my Cedarville years. Don Rickard, then Vice President of Student Services and Dean of Students, served as SGA’s advisor. He spent a lot of time with the students who served in SGA, including me. Dean Rickard was committed to meeting with the SGA President on a regular basis, and for two years, I was the beneficiary of those meetings. We discussed SGA business, but that was just part of our time together. We also talked a lot about life. He was genuinely interested in me as a person, a student, and a follower of Christ. He listened, empathized, and advised. And when necessary, he corrected with a loving, caring, and affirming tone. Dean Rickard was more than just an SGA advisor to me — he was a personal friend and mentor. Developing a friendship with someone like Dean Rickard; experiencing the challenges and rewards of leadership; understanding humility, sacrifice, and service; growing in my walk with Jesus — these are the unexpected, lifelong fruits of my SGA experience. It was a surprising door that God opened for me, and I am grateful that I went through it. Bowe Hoy ’96 served as Freshman Class President in ’92–’93, SGA Executive Council member in ’93–’94, and SGA President in ’94–’95 and ’95–’96. He is now a Regional Director for Sword & Shield Enterprise Security and Founder/President of CoeAH Academy. He and his wife, Kimberly (Bandy) ’97, have four children and live in Vancouver, Washington. You may contact him at bowe@coeah.com. Cedarville Magazine | 11