At this year's Feast of Ingathering banquet we awarded the 2007 Alumnus of the year award. The Alumnus of the Year Award is presented to an individual who embodies the University's mission statement - "Scholarship, Spirit, Service" - in their life, career and ministry. This year's award was presented to not one, but two outstanding SCU alumni.

In 1964, a young man came to SCU to prepare to fulfill his God-given call to preach. While at SCU, he not only received his ministry education, but met his wife as well. The couple was married in 1966 and both graduated from Southwestern in 1968. When they met, both felt a call to World Missions ministry. They began their ministry by pastoring churches in Texas for 16 ½ years. However, the call to Missions burned in their hearts. In 1983, that call was fulfilled. They were assigned by the World Missions Department of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church to reopen the Bible School in Cape Town, South Africa. Along with their daughter, Shellie, a future SCU graduate, they left the United States on September 30, 1984. They opened Cape Bible Training Center in January, 1986. In those initial years, they wrote the courses, taught and directed the operations of the school.
Now, CBTC has a staff of 15, is accredited by the South African Government and has sent numerous pastors and Christian workers into ministry. Pursuing his own educational goals, Roger received Bachelor, Masters and Doctor of Theology degrees from the University of South Africa. Recently, Roger and Mary were named Executive Directors of Church Education Ministries for Africa. Together, they have given their lives and ministries for the benefit of the African people.   Through 24 years of distinguished missionary service, they have impacted a generation of young men and women for Christ and His Kingdom. They have lived out the University's mission of preparing young people and adults to be "World Changers" for Christ, through Servant Leadership.
It is Southwestern Christian University's privilege to recognize Roger and Mary Gorman as the 2007 Alumni of the Year.
We are proud of our alumni!