From justice for a community, to healing for families, to bringing the Good News of
Christ to people around the world, the alumni who will be honored at Homecoming this
year represent the heart of the mission of York College: lives of service to God,
family, and society.
David K. Arterburn ’77 and Kimberly (Dreher ’02) Hoyt will be presented with Alumni of the Year Awards and the Servant Leader Award will be presented to the 2002-2007 Sendai missions team: Jonathan Straker ’00, Joel Osborne ’00, Ben Berry ’01, and Crimsen (Ruhnke ‘00) Hanson. These awards will be presented during Homecoming Alumni Chapel, which runs from 9:30-11:30 a.m., Saturday, October 21 at East Hill Church of Christ.
David K. Arterburn ’77 and Kimberly (Dreher ’02) Hoyt will be presented with Alumni of the Year Awards and the Servant Leader Award will be presented to the 2002-2007 Sendai missions team: Jonathan Straker ’00, Joel Osborne ’00, Ben Berry ’01, and Crimsen (Ruhnke ‘00) Hanson. These awards will be presented during Homecoming Alumni Chapel, which runs from 9:30-11:30 a.m., Saturday, October 21 at East Hill Church of Christ.
Alumnus of the Year
David Arterburn is a judge of the Nebraska State Court of Appeals. He previously served as a District Court Judge in Sarpy County Nebraska for a period
of nearly 12 years where he also presided over the drug court. Arterburn began his career in private practice as well as serving as Deputy Red Willow
County Attorney. He then served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Nebraska
Department of Justice before being appointed to the bench. His education includes bachelor’s, master’s and juris doctorate degrees from the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln in addition to his associate’s degree from York College.
Arterburn is active in his community as a volunteer judge for the Nebraska High School Mock Trial. Previously he served on the board of directors for the Cornhusker Christian Children’s Foundation and coached and refereed youth sports. Arterburn and his wife Cindy have been married 37 years and have three grown children. Arterburn is also an elder at Southwest Church of Christ in Omaha.
Arterburn is active in his community as a volunteer judge for the Nebraska High School Mock Trial. Previously he served on the board of directors for the Cornhusker Christian Children’s Foundation and coached and refereed youth sports. Arterburn and his wife Cindy have been married 37 years and have three grown children. Arterburn is also an elder at Southwest Church of Christ in Omaha.
Young Alumnus of the Year
Kimberly (Dreher) Hoyt is a physician’s assistant in Grand Junction, Colorado, where she has practiced medicine
for 13 years. She specializes in family medicine at Grand Valley Urgent Care, which
also provides a student health clinic for a nearby university. Hoyt treats patients
dealing with acute and chronic health conditions, from broken bones to diabetes and
everything in between. Her previous positions have included working with Desert Sun
Medical Center and Med-X, P.C. Urgent Care.
After completing studies at York College, Hoyt graduated from a P.A. program at Philadelphia University in 2004. She also holds many professional certifications and licenses. She is loved by her patients, one of whom described her as an “awesome doctor that always provided me with the best options for my health.” She is recognized for her accuracy, empathy, and excellent communication skills. Hoyt, her husband Darrel, and their sons Easton (7) and Oliver (3) are active members at Northeast Christian Church.
After completing studies at York College, Hoyt graduated from a P.A. program at Philadelphia University in 2004. She also holds many professional certifications and licenses. She is loved by her patients, one of whom described her as an “awesome doctor that always provided me with the best options for my health.” She is recognized for her accuracy, empathy, and excellent communication skills. Hoyt, her husband Darrel, and their sons Easton (7) and Oliver (3) are active members at Northeast Christian Church.
Servant Leader Award
When college friends Jonathan Straker, Joel Osborne, Ben Berry, and Crimsen (Ruhnke) Hanson committed to five years of missions in Japan after graduation, they didn’t know that
they would be embarking on an international adventure that would touch thousands of
lives and have a lasting impact on their own lives, careers, and families for many
years to come.
Starting with a six-week Let’s Start Talking trip in 1998, the team began dreaming together of a longer-term effort in Asia. After extensive planning, training, and fundraising, they began work in Sendai, Japan, in 2002. Due to family concerns, Crimsen returned to the states in 2006. The following year, their commitment to Sendai complete, Ben and Jon returned to the U.S. to pursue master’s degrees in missions from Abilene Christian University. Joel worked in Singapore and Thailand during that time. A few years later, Joel settled in Mito, Japan, to continue missions outreach and Ben and wife Erica (Towell ’06) joined him in that effort and also taught English at a local school. Jon and his wife Michiko returned to Japan in 2011 in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami in Sendai that killed more than 15,000 people. They worked in humanitarian relief efforts as well as missions.
A great many York College students and alumni have worked with the churches in Japan, facilitated and mentored by the original four-member Sendai team, including the York College Concert Choir, which toured Japan in 2005. The ministry work continues there today: Joel and his wife Kristin work with the church in Mito full-time. Jon and his wife Michiko now work full-time in ministry in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and visit Ishinomaki, Japan, regularly to see family and continue follow-up efforts in that area. The Berrys settled in York in 2013, where they live and work with adults with mental disabilities. Crimsen lives in Cloquet, Minnesota, with her family and teaches at Churchill Elementary. Each continues to lead lives of service, sacrifice, and ministry.
Starting with a six-week Let’s Start Talking trip in 1998, the team began dreaming together of a longer-term effort in Asia. After extensive planning, training, and fundraising, they began work in Sendai, Japan, in 2002. Due to family concerns, Crimsen returned to the states in 2006. The following year, their commitment to Sendai complete, Ben and Jon returned to the U.S. to pursue master’s degrees in missions from Abilene Christian University. Joel worked in Singapore and Thailand during that time. A few years later, Joel settled in Mito, Japan, to continue missions outreach and Ben and wife Erica (Towell ’06) joined him in that effort and also taught English at a local school. Jon and his wife Michiko returned to Japan in 2011 in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami in Sendai that killed more than 15,000 people. They worked in humanitarian relief efforts as well as missions.
A great many York College students and alumni have worked with the churches in Japan, facilitated and mentored by the original four-member Sendai team, including the York College Concert Choir, which toured Japan in 2005. The ministry work continues there today: Joel and his wife Kristin work with the church in Mito full-time. Jon and his wife Michiko now work full-time in ministry in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and visit Ishinomaki, Japan, regularly to see family and continue follow-up efforts in that area. The Berrys settled in York in 2013, where they live and work with adults with mental disabilities. Crimsen lives in Cloquet, Minnesota, with her family and teaches at Churchill Elementary. Each continues to lead lives of service, sacrifice, and ministry.