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Thank you, Friend, for believing that the Wheaton College educational experience that has eternal impact in this world for Christ!
Now is a particularly important time for any interested domestic students to fully engage in their admission journey toward fall 2025. If you would like to refer a student to Wheaton – for undergraduate through doctoral studies – just contact us.
We’ll take it from there.
We invite you to read further to see what we’re excited about here.
Thank you for your partnership as you spread the word about Wheaton College, refer students to us, and pray!
April McLaughlin
Coordinator, Billy Graham Scholarship Program
Bryant Kong
Director of Global Engagement – Asia Pacific
Spring 2025 Friends Newsletter
Friends Wheaton College: Professor Dr. Saleem Massey, Founder/ Chairman, Good Shepherd Christian Hospital Foundation, Kasur, Pakistan; and Simon Fazal Saleem, Principal, Good Shepherd Bible College, Kasur, Pakistan and graduate of Wheaton College, Chicago, Illinois
Wheaton in the World: HNGR Field Reports
Noah Chung's experience at ALL4AID in Cyprus serves as a powerful reminder of the profound need for compassion, empathy, and solidarity with those suffering in the margins. Working alongside asylum-seekers, Chung witnessed the deep pain of displacement, but also the light of hope and joy that comes from small acts of care and kindness. He calls for the "Church to rise above barriers of fear, racism, and division, reflecting Christ's love and presence in the lives of those who are most vulnerable. Through shared sorry and joy, we embody the spirit of service and remembrance." Read the complete Record article.
Campus News: Collegiate Day of Prayer 2/27
Why adopt Wheaton College in prayer? As passionate scholars who love the Lord go forth, so too shall the nation follow... (National Day of Prayer website)
History stands as a testament to the transformative power found within the unity of shared humble prayer. Time and again, we have witnessed God pouring His Spirit upon American universities, blessing and reshaping entire campuses through profound seasons of spiritual renewal. These movements did not remain confined within the walls of academia; they spread with an infectious fervor across the globe.
We invite you to make Wheaton College your prayer campus. Please adopt us and pray for a spiritual awakening among the students, faculty and staff.
Graduate School News: Civil Rights Tour
"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." from Letters from Birmingham, Alabama Jail, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Students from Wheaton College Graduate School will be going on the annual Civil Rights Tour, February 14-17, 2025. They will be visiting historic and modern Civil Rights sites in Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham, and Memphis.
Ato Manful, Billy Graham International Christian Leader from Ghana studying M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, went on the tour last year and reports, "Coming from a country from whose coasts, slaves had been shipped, the Civil Rights Tour was a full-circle experience. Here I was learning about how their lives had fared when they arrived on this side of the world. It was heartbreaking, agonizing, freeing, enlightening, and it did something to me. I resolved to stand against injustice wherever God places me.
I strongly recommend other students to participate in this tour. It will give them a deeper understanding of the gift of life and fill the gaps in their knowledge of African American history and experience. It will reveal to them an aspect of the heart of God and challenge them to represent Him well. For me, the Civil Rights Tour must be a requirement for all members of the Wheaton community."
Undergraduate News: March for Life
The Wheaton student group, Voice for Life, was chosen to lead the National March for Life event in Washington, D.C. after receiving a formal invitation in August. This event drew thousands of people advocating for anti-abortion causes. They were joined by speakers like Governor Ron DeSantis, Vice President J.D. Vance, and the band Unspoken, who rallied attendees with messages about the importance of defending life. Hannah Lape, a senior, was the only student speaker, and she emphasized the movement as a fight for human rights, not just political battles. Students like Susanna Brink expressed the March's significance, representing a passionate generation committed to advocating for life. Read the complete Record article.
Student Feature
As the shadows of war loom over Ukraine, Christian parents are still sending their precious children to camp, a testament to their unwavering hope and resilience. This profound phenomenon captured the heart of Tanya Levchuk, M.A. '25, Billy Graham International Christian Leader, igniting her passion for graduate studies in outdoor and adventure leadership. "Understanding how - even if - Christian camping can provide solace to our youth grappling with the trauma of a war-torn nation is not just relevant; it's vital." she expressed with heartfelt conviction.
Tanya is preparing to return to serve within Ukraine, yet until she can, she is devoted to those around her at HoneyRock. Read the complete Wheaton Magazine article here.
Fall 2024 Friends Newsletter
Campus News: Who We Are
It is a difficult season for higher education, but God is preserving Wheaton College. Here is our Statement of Faith and Educational Purpose and you can view the following short video about the Community Covenant.
Wheaton in the World: Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization
The Fourth Lausanne Congress global gathering of Christian leaders met September 22-28 in Incheon, South Korea to consider gaps and opportunities in global mission. Since the first congress organized by Billy Graham in 1974 in Lausanne, Switzerland there have been two other gatherings in Manila, Philippines in 1989 and Cape Town, South Africa in 2010.
President Ryken and other speakers exposited from the book of Acts. Approximately 150 Wheaton students, staff, faculty and alumni were present. The Wheaton College Billy Graham Center as the North American headquarters for the Global Lausanne Movement, hosted a very encouraging Wheaton College gathering on Monday. Wheaton College alumni are in every corner of the world, proclaiming Christ.
Graduate School News: Divinity School
Todays’ Christian leaders need biblically faithful training that is culturally savvy and globally connected. The Wheaton College Graduate School has restructured its programs and faculty to meet the needs, launching the newly-named A. Duane Litfin Divinity School (Dr. Litfin pictured at left). Already serving students from more than 40 countries, the Divinity School is excited to announce the expansion of its flexible learning format to all master’s-level Bible and theology programs, which can now be completed from anywhere in the world with just a few trips to campus. The Divinity School will continue to have residential students on campus, but this new format allows a global audience to access the entire Divinity School.
Undergraduate News: Summer 2023 Study Abroad
Campus may have been quieter during the summer, but our faculty and students didn’t stop learning. Hear from our undergraduates as they reflect on their global study abroad experiences.
Student Feature
Ato Manful (Ghana) is the Country Director of Excellent Youth Outreach (EYO), Ghana. He was encountering more mental health issues among university students and in rural communities. Ato was granted the Billy Graham International Christian Leader award and is now in his second year of the M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at the Wheaton College Graduate School. He seeks this training to minister more holistically, disciple effectively, and create a thriving system for mental health within EYO when he returns home.
Ato married soon before coming to Wheaton and unfortunately, his wife has not been able to receive a U.S. visa to join him in the U.S. yet. Despite this struggle, Ato has been invested in work on campus including spearheading a new initiative thanks to a Tyndale Foundation Grant. He will supervise a group of current international students who will come alongside incoming international students on their journey from admission to enrollment.
He maintains that the personal connection with a student from one’s part of the world makes a huge difference when an international student is weighing the costs of entering into a degree program outside the home country.
“I have enjoyed my practicum and internship experience so far. It has been an opportunity to sharpen my counseling skills and to receive helpful feedback from peers and supervisors at my site."
Summer 2025 News
Thank You for Supporting Wheaton College!
We’re deeply grateful for your continued partnership as a Friend of Wheaton. Help any students you may recommend get an early start on their admissions process by talking about Wheaton College even now.
Know a student who would thrive here?
We invite you to refer them today, your recommendation can help open the door to a journey of academic excellence, spiritual growth, and meaningful community.
As you do, we also encourage you to explore our new campus update, offering a glimpse into the inspiring work happening at Wheaton this summer. From student impact stories to graduate commencement, we’re excited to share how God is moving on our campus.
Please forward this message to any prospective student and share the inquiry form below to help them take their first step toward Wheaton.
Thank you for your prayers, referrals, and faithful encouragement. Your involvement is a vital part of our mission—and we are truly blessed by your support.
Blessings,
April McLaughlin, Coordinator, Billy Graham Scholarship Program
april.mclaughlin@wheaton.edu
Bryant Kong, Director of Global Engagement – Asia Pacific
bryant.kong@wheaton.edu
Jessica Joel, International Marketing Developer Assistant
jessica.joel.01@wheaton.edu
Solar Panels at Wheaton College
Wheaton College is set to install its first on-campus solar panels by fall 2025 as part of its Intelligent Solar Project, a major step in its sustainability initiative. The project includes photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery energy storage systems placed on buildings like the Chrouser Sports Complex and Armerding Center, as well as solar carports in the Billy Graham East parking lot. These installations aim to reduce the college’s carbon footprint and provide about 7% of its electricity needs.
The $10.3 million project is largely funded by state and federal incentives, covering nearly 70% of the cost. Remaining expenses will be offset within four years through operational savings. The initiative marks a shift made possible by declining solar technology costs and increased financial incentives for non-profits.
Faculty and students view the project as a learning opportunity. Professors plan to integrate the system into coursework and research, while students anticipate hands-on experiences. The Environmental Sustainability Committee supports the project as a key step in meeting the college’s long-term goals for creation care and environmental stewardship, sparking broader engagement across the campus community. More on the solar panels
Impressions of Graduation
Graduating Billy Graham Scholars with Billy Graham Scholarship Coordinator, April Mclaughlin
Ceremonial Passage into the Goodness of God
On the 10th of May, we had our Graduate School Commencement Ceremony. It was an uplifting sight of graduates marching forward into the poignant moment of academic triumph and a memorable transition into a new chapter of life. Families, friends, professors, and alumni gathered to honor the graduating students who had weathered challenges, sought truth, and grown deeply in their understanding of God’s calling. As the graduates proceeded into Edman Chapel, dressed in their robes and hoods, there was a proud and a humbling moment of seeing students crossing into something new as everyone sang ‘How Great art Thou’, remembering the faithful God who walked with them in their scholarly journey at Wheaton College. The students were sent off by a very powerful keynote address by Rev. Ricky Jenkins, who brought with him an infectious joy, a love for the gospel, and a passion for the students and their future. Rev. Jenkins redirected everyone to 2 Timothy 4:1-5, reminding the graduates that many start the ministry passionately, but only a few finish it. To fulfill, fully accomplish or finish the work God has set before them; as credibility, authenticity and legitimacy of a Christian scholar is not only in starting but finishing what God has called to do.
As the names of each graduate were read, there was a sacred rhythm to the applause. For every name spoken, a story of perseverance echoed. Some had studied in a second language. Many juggled families, jobs, and ministry responsibilities while pursuing academic excellence. Every step across the stage was a step of testimony.
The conferring of degrees was not merely ceremonial, it was a commissioning. Each graduate had been shaped not just by lectures and libraries, but by the presence of God in the community. Professors had poured themselves into students not only as scholars, but as mentors and spiritual companions. The classrooms had been a place of prayer, reflection, and holy wrestling.
One of the most memorable voices of the day was Graduate Student Ato Manful, who delivered the student address with humility, grace, and power. Ato reflected on the shared journey of his classmates, some of whom came from across the globe to be shaped at Wheaton. He spoke of the doubts and triumphs, the late nights and lingering prayers, the friendships formed in vulnerability, and the professors who guided not only minds, but souls. That the graduate students were surrounded with “a community that believes, an education that is steady, faculty who inspire, staff who uplift and friends who encourage.” Ato reminded his peers that while their degrees signified the end of a chapter, their calling was only beginning, “Wherever we go, we may align with the purposes of heaven and stand with King Jesus.”
As tassels turned and prayers were lifted, benediction was ministered, the atmosphere was filled with hope and holy purpose. These graduates now go forth as servant-leaders, equipped by Wheaton and empowered by the Spirit, ready to be salt and light wherever God leads them next.
Celebrating 50 Years of Kingdom Legacy
The Billy Graham Scholarship at Wheaton College
Fifty years ago, a seed was planted one that would grow into a mighty testament to the power of the Gospel and the enduring influence of one man’s obedience to Christ. As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Billy Graham Scholarship at Wheaton College, we are not only marking time we are honoring a legacy of faith, global mission, and Christ-centered education that has shaped generations of Christian leaders.
Billy Graham, a 1943 graduate of Wheaton College, carried the message of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. From the largest stadiums to the smallest villages, from heads of state to the humble heart seeking hope, Dr. Graham preached one unchanging truth: salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. His ministry spanned nearly every continent and reached over 215 million people through crusades, radio, television, and print. But more than numbers, his impact was measured by the hearts surrendered to Christ and the lives transformed by the power of the Gospel.
The Billy Graham Scholarship was born from this very mission. Established to equip students from around the world especially those from under-resourced regions for Christ-centered leadership, this scholarship is a living continuation of Dr. Graham’s heart for global evangelism. It is a sacred bridge between Wheaton College’s academic excellence and the urgent, eternal call to proclaim Christ among the nations.
Each scholar who walks through Wheaton’s campus under this banner becomes part of a spiritual lineage disciples trained not merely in knowledge, but in the character and compassion of Christ. They return to their communities as pastors, teachers, missionaries, and agents of Kingdom transformation, echoing Billy Graham’s conviction that “the greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things... but rather a legacy of character and faith.”
As we reflect on five decades of the Billy Graham Scholarship, we are reminded that this is more than financial aid. It is a divine investment in people who will carry the light of Christ to places many of us may never go. It is a flame lit in Wheaton that now burns brightly in churches, seminaries, refugee camps, and mission fields across the world.
May this anniversary rekindle in us a holy urgency to pray, to give, and to raise up more laborers for the harvest. And may every future recipient of this scholarship walk boldly in the footsteps of Billy Graham, lifting high the Cross of Christ so that all may hear, all may know, and all may believe.
To God be the glory for 50 years of Kingdom impact and for the generations to come who will carry the Gospel forward through the vision that Billy Graham lived and the scholarship that bears his name.
Graduate Student Feature
From Tragedy to Transformation: The journey of Emmanuel and Coco
Surviving the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda profoundly altered the course of Coco and Emmanuel’s lives. The devastation was immense, they had lost over 100 family members to brutal violence. Coco became an orphan who shouldered the responsibility of raising her two young sisters who survived. In the aftermath, they struggled deeply with reconciling their faith with the searing suffering, questioning how a predominantly Christian nation could experience such horror that claimed over a million lives. Yet through this darkness, God led them on a remarkable journey of healing and purpose. What began as a profound loss transformed into a divine calling, Coco and Emmanuel now serve as ambassadors of Hope, Healing, and Reconciliation throughout the world.
Already a renowned leader in Rwanda and across Africa, Emmanuel had served as the Country Director for IFES, shaping young leaders through campus ministry. His journey to Wheaton College, aided by a Billy Graham Scholarship, deepened his calling to global missions, enriching both his ministry and Wheaton's diverse community. Their path from Africa to Wheaton College became instrumental in shaping their mission to bring the gospel to unreached communities. Sensing a calling to cross-cultural evangelism, he sought academic training in evangelism and missions. They were welcomed and embraced by Wheaton's community, allowing them to use their gift of hospitality by welcoming people from various ethnicities and cultures in their home for fellowship, with a special focus on International Students. Wheaton College’s rich legacy of global missions inspired their participation in God's redemptive work, while its academic rigor sharpened their critical thinking and expanded their understanding of global ministry.
Emmanuel and Coco’s core passion remains knowing Christ and making Him known, especially among those who have never heard the gospel. They long to see African churches proclaim the complete gospel while developing disciples who multiply. Their Wheaton experience has opened new doors for ministry growth. In 2024, Coco began pursuing a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy, reflecting their belief that healthy families form the foundation of healthy churches engaged in global mission. With so many Rwandan families left broken by the genocide against the Tutsi, their combined focus on evangelism and family restoration aims to contribute to holistic transformation in Rwanda, across Africa, and beyond.
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