Mike Yankoski, 2005 graduate
Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California
Computer Science and Theology Major
As a college freshman, Mike Yankoski wondered how it felt to be homeless. What would it feel like? How would Christians treat him? "I felt God calling me to find out," says Mike. So, after over a year of research, he and a friend chose to live as homeless men for five months. On the streets of six major cities, Mike and Sam slept under bridges, ate out of trash cans, played their guitars to earn money for food and lived among convicted felons and drug dealers. The experience challenged Mike's perceptions of the homeless and tested his faith. While many churches and Christians welcomed Mike and Sam, some did not. "We were often rejected by some Christians because of what we looked or smelled like," says Mike. Mike shares his experiences, conversations with the homeless, and faith lessons in his book, Under the Overpass (Multnomah), and at undertheoverpass.com. —Kate E. Schmelzer
Advocating for Minorities
Jessica Barron, 2005 graduate
Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California
Sociology Major
Jessica Barron's passion for making a difference won her a $16,000 multi-ethnic leadership scholarship from Azusa Pacific University. The main stipulation for the scholarship is that minority freshmen take active leadership roles on campus. During Jessica's college career, she definitely took that stipulation seriously.Her advocacy and leadership work included helping to start a special program for minority high school students, working in public relations for the student chapel and a position as a student government senator. Jessica hopes to become a college professor and work in communication arts emphasizing minority issues. "I feel Christ was very intentional in creating us so differently," she says. "Color can mean so much, but it can also be a barrier. Fear breeds distance. If we educate early on, we'll see beautiful allies coming together." She has worked in local churches to make minority students aware of higher education. She also helped organize and lead minority college visit days, which allow students in seventh through twelfth grades explore majors, the APU campus and financial aid possibilities. Jessica was also among a handful of young women who envisioned and founded APU's Women's Resource Center. "Our main purpose is to advocate, educate and inspire," says Jessica. "The center provides a support network focusing on women's higher education, social issues and spiritual life." —Kate E. Schmelzer
Making a Difference with Art
Dustin White, senior
Malone College
Visual Arts Education
When Dustin White saw the haunting television images of last December's deadly tsunami, he felt God leading him to use his gifts to help. "God gave me a talent for art," he says. "I thought, how can I use that to help these people?"Before long, Dustin had a plan. He challenged art students from area colleges, along with professors and professional artists, to donate art for two charity auctions. His plan soon turned into reality, raising more than $4,000 for victims. Dustin says around 300 pieces of art—photography, paintings, jewelry, sculptures, sketches, etc.—were sold in a massive live auction and a smaller silent auction. "It was amazing to see people using their gifts to help others," he says. "These artists make their money with their art, so they were basically giving up paychecks. Local musicians played at the sales for free. An auctioneer volunteered. Companies matched what we made dollar for dollar. My professors were very understanding about how much time we were all spending on this and Malone College gave us money for advertising. Everyone really came together, so much that we're now hoping to hold a charity art auction every year." —Todd Hertz
Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
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