10.7.08 - Northwestern College Awards Banquets
by Tamara Fynaard
ORANGE CITY, Iowa—Northwestern College honored three distinguished alumni on Friday, Sept. 26, during Homecoming festivities. Dr. Charollene (Vander Pol) Coates, Rapid City, S.D.; Rob Roozeboom, Sheldon; and Dr. Ron Juffer, Orange City, were recognized for their professional, humanitarian and Northwestern service achievements.The Distinguished Alumni Dinner began at 6:30 p.m. in Vermeer Dining Room.
Roozeboom was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a teenager. He became rebellious, depressed, even suicidal. Through God’s grace, he says, he came to understand that even if he couldn’t control his ailment, he could control his attitude.
In 2001, shortly after he graduated from Northwestern, Roozeboom founded RISE Ministries, an organization that seeks to encourage teens and adults to overcome adversity. He shares his insights on Rise Above Radio, a daily program on more than 250 radio stations worldwide, and travels nationally, sharing the stage with musicians and speakers like MercyMe and Ken Davis. Roozeboom’s ministry also produces an annual Christian music festival and has launched a mission trip experience for teens.
A member of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s National Task Force on Public Awareness, Roozeboom has also appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon. In 2005, he was Iowa’s recipient of the MDA Personal Achievement Award.