NATIONAL AWARD TO ISANG JACOBS

INDY.COM


March 14, 2009

Pike Youth Soccer Club coach earns national honor

National award takes Isang Jacob by surprise

By Nat Newell
nat.newell@indystar.com

Isang Jacob has played soccer in front of more than 40,000 people, but he’s never been as nervous as he was waiting for the announcement of the U.S. Youth Soccer Competitive Coach of the Year Award on March 6.

The Pike Youth Soccer Club coach, who was so sure he wouldn’t be named the organization’s state coach of the year that he took his shoes off at the banquet to be more comfortable, was chosen from four regional winners by the U.S. Youth Soccer board of directors at the Youth Soccer Workshop in San Jose, Calif. The award is based on sportsmanship, player development, personal coaching development and community involvement.

"I was truly humbled and surprised when I won the state award," said Jacob. He has led the Indy Burn 90 Premier Eagles to seven consecutive state championships and has had all of his players earn scholarships, 17 of them to Division I programs. "Getting the regional (award) blew me away. I opened the letter and started shaking, then I called everyone I knew. I’ve never been more nervous in my life (when the national award was announced). I don’t deserve it. There are so many great coaches across the country."

Jacob was an assistant coach at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis after playing at Indiana Wesleyan, but while recruiting, he decided players in the Indianapolis area needed to develop better fundamentals. He quit IUPUI and started working as a volunteer coach with younger players.

"I wanted to give them practical knowledge, the right technique and help them be fine young men and citizens," Jacob said. "I’ve been with this group since they were 11 and have retained 75 percent of them. I had everyone tell me it would not work. But I sit back and see these kids going to Harvard, Cornell, Butler, IUPUI, West Virginia. . . . I’m truly honored and humbled."

Jacob, who also was named Indiana’s coach of the year in 2004, serves as the head of Indiana’s U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program. He was a two-time NCCAA All-American and was invited to play on the Nigerian Senior National Team in 1991.

"I believe many of us at the Pike Soccer Club are still a bit unbelieving of this award," Pike Youth Soccer Club Executive Director Tom Geisse said in an e-mail. "Oft times we don’t think many folks outside Indianapolis recognize the long hours and hard work of the Pike Soccer Club coaches for the past 30 years. Today, the families of Pike Youth Soccer Club are very proud of Isang Jacob’s accomplishments on and off the field during his decade of service to Indianapolis youth."


IWU has new University Registrar

On behalf of the Office of the Provost, we are pleased to announce
that Indiana Wesleyan University has a new University Registrar, Mrs.
Kim Nicholson.

Kim received both her BS and MA degrees from IWU. She is currently
serving as Director of Records, and has also had experience in the
College of Adult and Professional Studies. She brings an
understanding of the diversity of the programs and students served by
IWU.

Kim is a gifted administrator, a skilled counselor, and a Christ-like
leader. Her gifts and abilities, and her heart for the Lord and
members of the IWU community make her a perfect fit for the position
of University Registrar.

Please join us in welcoming Kim to her new position, and prayerfully
support her during the transition and extra load she will carry until
a new Director of Records is hired. We would covet your prayers that
God will send just the right person for that position.

Dr. Brian Simmons Resigns as IWU Vice President

It is with mixed emotions that I announce to the IWU family that Dr. Brian Simmons, Vice President for University Relations, submitted his resignation this week.

Dr. Simmons has accepted a position as President of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), which has 5,300 member schools in 100 countries. ACSI has its headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has 18 regional offices around the world. The details of his departure have yet to be finalized but he will be concluding his work at IWU sometime this summer.

I appreciate Dr. Simmons' many contributions to Indiana Wesleyan University over the past three years. Although his departure is a great loss to IWU, the presidency of ACSI is an exceptionally good fit for Dr. Simmons since before coming to IWU in 2006, he served for 10 years as Superintendent of Heritage Christian School in Indianapolis, and he is very connected to the Christian school movement.

I value the fact that Dr. Simmons will be serving as president of ASCI, one of the largest Christian school organizations in the world. Many students from ASCI member institutions have attended IWU, and I'm looking forward to continuing a positive relationship with the President of the organization. I know Brian will be a friend of IWU.

"I so very much enjoy serving the Lord with you here at IWU," Dr. Simmons said. "I believe in IWU, its mission and our emerging vision to change the world!" He also noted in his letter of resignation that IWU wouldn't be seeing the end of the Simmons family as his youngest daughter has just been accepted in the IWU freshman class of 2009.

Henry Smith
President

A Life of Service – Gladys Maxine Wilson

A life of service begins with a single step. For each person that step is at a different place and time, but it is the beginning of a rewarding life in service of others.

 

Gladys Maxine Wilson was born on March 21, 1923 in Faulkton, S.D., to Ed and Mabel Sime – salt of the earth farmers. She loved school from an early age and eagerly looked forward to her time in the one-room school house. To attend high school she had to board in town and only see her family on weekends, but it was a small sacrifice for this eager student. Post-high school she spent 2 years at Miltonville Wesleyan and then transferred to Indiana Wesleyan where she received a BA in religion.

 

It was during her time in college that she met Beverly Frank Wilson. Although she was sure this was the right match, she had to wait for Bev to finish his Army assignment before they could wed. Then she settled into a life of service as a minister’s wife. Their first assignment was in a very small country church in one of the poorest parts of Kentucky. The assignment was a challenging one for the newlyweds, but they made a great team. This was followed by 8 years in Canandaigua, New York, 8 years at the Wesley Methodist Church in Mitchell, South Dakota and 9 year at the Lincoln Oaks Wesleyan Methodist Church in Fair Oaks, California. Each assignment came with its own unique challenges. The move to California was especially difficult for the mid-west farm girl, but she trusted that the Lord was taking her where she would best serve.

 

The last move Bev and Gladys made was to Arrow Highway Wesleyan Methodist Church in Azusa, California. It was during this time that Bev developed cancer and passed away in his mid-fifties. What followed was a time of turmoil for Gladys as her commitment to service was part of her husband’s ministry. She faced not only the loss of a spouse, but the loss of her identity. A door at Azusa Pacific University opened working in the office, but over time she began to develop the Heart to Heart Ministry which became her passion. For the last 20 years she focused on this program exclusively. The program filled her need to help others and was a blessing for those who participated – a match made in heaven.

 

After 30 years at Azusa Pacific, Gladys Maxine Wilson passed away 1 month before her 86th birthday. She worked up until the day before her stroke with the full support of the University. The students, mentors and staff she dealt with were her second family. She is survived by many family members: sister Lucille, brothers Wes and Arv; children Ron, Marilyn and Wes and her cherished grandchildren Aaron, Danielle, Evan, Breanna, Nathan, Lauren, Melissa and Johnathan. We will all dearly miss her.

 

Rest in Peace.

Gladys Maxine Wilson

1923 – 2009