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Freshman Lukas Dahlstrom, however, is going one step further, walking a path traveled by three previous generations, including a grandfather who taught for more than two decades at North Park Theological Seminary.<\/p>\nCHICAGO, IL (February 14, 2007) \u2013 It is not unusual for teenagers to follow in their parents\u2019 footsteps when it comes time to choosing where to pursue their education after high school.
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\nFreshman Lukas Dahlstrom, however, is going one step further, walking a path traveled by three previous generations, including a grandfather who taught for more than two decades at North Park Theological Seminary.<\/p>\n
Dahlstrom\u2019s great-grandfather, J. Arvid Jones graduated from the seminary and served several Evangelical Covenant Church congregations. Grandfather Earl Dahlstrom (C\u201936, S\u201940) was professor of pastoral studies and theology from 1954 to 1979. He also served as the director of field education. Lukas\u2019s father, Karl, attended North Park for three years.<\/p>\n
Lukas says that his contacts with North Park students while attending Camp Squanto at Pilgrim Pines Camp and Conference Center in Keene, New Hampshire, played a bigger role in his decision than his family history. Those students, who were camp counselors, spoke enthusiastically about the university. \u201cI wasn\u2019t really thinking about going to college then, but they really influenced me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Lukas says he never felt pressured to attend North Park, emphasizing, \u201cI was the one who suggested it,\u201d he says. His parents had expected him to go elsewhere\u2014probably one of the Ivy League schools he was accepted to. \u201cWe actually were surprised,\u201d says Karl Dahlstrom.<\/p>\n
Lukas chose the school because of its location, commitment to the community, and basketball Coach Paul Brenegan, he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew I wanted to see a different part of the country,\u201d says the native of Etna, New Hampshire. \u201cI really wanted to see something different.\u201d<\/p>\n
The university\u2019s outreach to the city impressed him. \u201cI knew that North Park was involved in the area, and that they were proud of that,\u201d says Lukas. He has helped with the school\u2019s Friday night ministry to the homeless on several occasions and hopes to be more involved with outreach activities when basketball is finished.<\/p>\n
Brenegan also impressed Dahlstrom, who had played varsity high school basketball. Lukas has spent most of the season playing with the Junior Varsity Vikings. \u201cIt\u2019s been mostly good,\u201d he says of the transition.<\/p>\n
Lukas says he has especially appreciated getting to know his teammates and learning more about the different paths people have taken to get to the university. \u201cMy teammates are great,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Lukas is recipient of the Nyvall Scholarship, the highest academic award given by the university, and says he also has had to learn to balance academics with sports and other activities. \u201cIt\u2019s really good to have a semester under the belt,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n