Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) has inaugurated the Vazquez Family Collaboratory, a new facility aimed at enhancing global engagement through project-based learning. The opening ceremony took place on October 17 at the Stephen W. Nease Center, with funding provided by Juan and Ines Vazquez and their family.
Dr. Carson Castleman, President of MVNU, expressed gratitude for the Vazquez family's contribution, stating that it represents "a living testament to the Vazquez family’s faith and service." He acknowledged their generosity and commitment to both God and the church.
The legacy of the Vazquez family began with Rev. Angel Vazquez in Puerto Rico and continued when Juan and Ines immigrated to the United States in 1976. They built a successful McDonald’s franchise while maintaining their faith-based values. At the ribbon-cutting event, Juan Vazquez emphasized prioritizing faith: "In our life, church is first, home is second."
The Collaboratory will facilitate students' engagement in real-world projects that connect them with faculty and community partners globally. Initiatives include health resource studies in Knox County, Ohio; public safety exploration in Martin County, Kentucky; drone technology for Guatemalan farmers; and an aquaponics fish farm in Mozambique.
Dr. Brenita Nicholas-Edwards, Director of the Fairbanks Center for Global Engagement, highlighted the Collaboratory's role in forming strategic partnerships: "Through the Vazquez Family Collaboratory, the Fairbanks Center creates strategic partnerships where MVNU students can learn from on-the-ground practitioners under the mentorship of faculty."
Stephen Sickle from Nazarene Global Missions praised this collaboration as transformative: "This partnership with MVNU and the Fairbanks Center is deeply meaningful...it transforms what could be a transactional exchange into a transformational relationship where everyone learns, grows, and contributes."
The endowment supports staffing, grants, course development, and new partnerships. It complements MVNU’s Intercultural Studies co-major by preparing students for multicultural environments through classroom study and practicums in countries like Uganda and Costa Rica.
Dr. Nicholas-Edwards remarked on how these opportunities enable students to engage actively with global communities: "The story of the Collaboratory is still being written — but with every project...students are discovering how education, service, and faith can transform lives."
For more information about the Vazquez Family Collaboratory or FCGE initiatives at Mount Vernon Nazarene University visit mvnu.edu/fcge.
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