Outstanding Young Alumni: 2024
JOe Hirsch ’15
Joe Hirsch ’15 graduated from Central with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and History. This past October, Joe was on campus and recognized for his academic and professional accomplishments, service to the community, and modeling the values of CCCK as the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
When thinking about Central and the college’s influence on his life, Joe says, “Central helped shape me. It helped me find my passions in life and discover who I was. I used what the faculty and staff taught me and I still apply it to my life. It helped me find my true voice, to find who I was in Christ.”
As a student, Joe was an Education & History Major, served as Class President, Education Club President, and was featured in a number of stage performances. However, it was not Central that gave Joe his first love for the stage. It was in high school in Oberlin, Kansas, where he fell in love with theater because of the influences of his sister and mother who were big into theatre, his vocal teacher, Mrs. Nelson who did the musical portion and his English/Drama teacher, Miss Davis who did forensics and the play.
“They both taught me the basics of theatre and taught me to be myself on stage. When I auditioned for Chris Gates at Central in the spring of 2011, I didn’t realize then that he would become my mentor and after graduation one of my best friends. Chris taught me how to find a deeper understanding of my characters and how to direct. I absolutely adored my time with Chris and the theatre students in Greer Auditorium.”
Since graduation, Joe has spent the last nine years teaching, including time at Herington High School in Herington KS, where he coached forensics, directed theater, and taught history. In the fall of 2024, Joe opened up the curtains to his new venture as the Theatre Director at McPherson High School. He is now immersed full time teaching the basics of theatre and acting, how to design and build sets and the basics of lighting and sound design.
Sometimes in life you look for things to move into, such as changes in jobs or towns, etc. but the opportunity in McPherson was something Joe did not expect. “I was not looking for a new position or change, I LOVED teaching in Herington but through this I learned that as long as you trust in God and listen to the people in your life, you can find what is the right path for your life at the time.”
Outstanding Young Alumni Honorees
The Outstanding Young Alumni honor was initiated upon the recommendation of the College’s Alumni Association Board of Directors in 2004.
Listed below are the recipients who have been chosen by the Board since its inception.
- 2024- Joe Hirsch ’18
- 2023- Jacob Ogelsby ’15
- 2021- Kelsey Vine ’11, Louis Collins ’08, Mayuko Shono ’17, Nate Oswald ’10
- 2018- Micah Johnson ’08
- 2017- Melvin Sanders ’05
- 2016- Sarah Ouren ’09
Outstanding Young Alumni: 2021
Kelsey Vine(’11)
Kelsey was born and raised in Kansas and graduated from Central Christian College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pastoral Ministry. While at Central, she also took several painting courses from Professor Naomi Ullum, reigniting Kelsey’s childhood passion for art.
In 2012, Kelsey launched her business, Things Unseen Fine Art (2 Corinthians 4:18), as an avenue to share the gospel and encourage other believers. “As God fills my imagination with pictures of Himself and His Kingdom,” says Kelsey, “I want to paint them so that others can see Him more clearly, too.”
Louis Collins (‘08)
Pastor Lou is a favored speaker around the country at various men’s conferences, young adult retreats, youth explosions, college campus events, conventions, and convocations. He has published two books, “A Preacher’s Struggle” and “Home Again: Reclaiming yourself after years of fighting against yourself” attributes most of his success, to the mentoring and counsel he received while at Central Christian College
Pastor Louis (Lou) Collins is a native of Los Angeles, CA. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Central Christian College and after graduation, was on the Resident Life staff as well as Assistant Men’s Basketball coach for four years.
Louis was called into ministry in 2009, received his Master of Arts degree in Children and Family Ministry from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Waxahachie TX, in 2011, then a second masters in Practical Theology in 2014 from Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA. Today he is busy planting a City Pentecost Church in Houston, TX while pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Liberty University and plans to graduate spring of 2023.
Mayuko Shono (‘17)
In 2018, Mayuko went back to Tokyo and is now working as Christian Artist. She started her missional business called “LYN (Love Your Neighbor)” to share the gospel through her art in Japan. As she creates, Mayuko covers her pieces with prayer as they are an expression of her relationship with Christ. Her motivation is to change the wrong understanding of Christianity in Japan through Arts especially with the younger generation. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” 1 Peter 4:10
Mayuko Shono grew up in Tokyo, Japan and studied in the United States as an exchange student from 2009 to 2017. She was a member of the volleyball team at Central Christian College and graduated with a BA in liberal studies, in Art & Psychology in 2016.
Nate Oswald (‘10)
Since graduation, Nate has been involved with several amazing companies such as Hospira Pharmaceuticals, Siemens Wind Power, and IdeaTek, a broadband service provider with the mission of “fighting for internet freedom.” The training, relationships, and equipping God gave me through my Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Organizational Leadership from CCCK has greatly influenced my daily life both personally and professionally. I could not be more grateful for my time at CCCK and those who invested in me so that I can now invest in others.”
Nate attended Central because he saw it as the best place to further his education and open new opportunities to serve God. In 2010 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Organizational Leadership.