Inspire, Winter 2004

Inspire 17 Laurie Whaley ’97 Young Alumna of the Year Laurie never dreamed she would have the opportunity to share about Christ through the national and even international media. But in the past 18 months, she has had hundreds of opportunities to do just that. Laurie is director of brand development for the New Century Version (NCV) of the Bible at Thomas Nelson Publishers in Nashville, Tennessee. When a Thomas Nelson study of teen girls found that most didn’t read the Bible but did read magazines, Thomas Nelson decided to publish the NCV New Testament in a magazine format. This magazine, called Revolve , includes quizzes, tips, and other sidebars to make it more readable for teen girls. Laurie was involved in reviewing and testing the manuscript, providing art direction for the cover, and marketing the product, but her primary role was representing Revolve to the media. Much to the surprise of Thomas Nelson, Revolve stirred a media and consumer frenzy. As a result, in the four months following Revolve ’s release, Laurie had the chance to talk about this Bible in more than 350 interviews with Newsweek , Fox News Channel, “The Today Show,” The New York Times Magazine , and many others. “Laurie has handled her media exposure and interviews with prayer,” commented Emily Wiljamaa Seeger ’98. She added, “When Laurie and I were in graduate school together, I saw Laurie’s passion for people to know Christ. ... She never shied away from an opportunity to share about her Savior.” This past June, Revolve was awarded the Gold Medallion Book Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and received the Retailers Choice Award from Christian retailers across the country. Laurie advised, “Let God dream your dreams for you, and you will be exceedingly and abundantly astonished at how much bigger His dreams are than yours.” Dan Poole ’80 Distinguished Service Award When Dan was a student at the ’Ville, his dream was to someday own a Christian radio station. In the process of chasing his own dream, he has helped others realize theirs as well. “Dan has done immeasurable service to the University, our faculty and students, and the radio industry by his investment in the electronic media programs and students,” explained Jim Leightenheimer ’80, associate professor of communication arts. “Dan has encouraged many Cedarville students (and this faculty member) by providing a listening ear, helping with research for a paper or project, organizing internships, visiting campus or calling prospective students to share his experience with them, serving as a charter member of the CU Electronic Media Advisory Council, and providing a scholarship for students involved in leadership of the student radio station U99.5.” Dan has also served on the National Christian Radio Association steering committee. A former student staff member at CDR Radio, Dan began his post-grad years at WYFC AM radio in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He moved to Detroit in 1983 to take a job at WWJ Newsradio 950. In 1986 he saw his dream realized when he became co- owner of WCM Christian Music 990. Since then, Dan has sold the station and is currently a senior account manager at WJR Newstalk 760. Dan has been married to his wife, Carole, for 20 years and calls her his best friend and strongest supporter. Together they raise their son, Daniel Jr. (15), and twins, Christopher and David (11). Jim noted, “Dan has always been an example of a godly man in his service to his family, friends, co-workers, and church.” “We can chase our dreams and work hard (which we should),” Dan said, “but always know it has to be a God-thing. He chooses to bless and accomplish through us so He will be glorified, not us.”