Andrew Wiens (g’10) took his first step as a Tabor College graduate with a heart of gratitude.
Like any recent graduate, Wiens began exploring where to live and where to work. When he began to consider his expenses, the value of supporting his alma mater left an indelible mark on his mind.
“I knew how special Tabor was and is, helping me shape who I am to this day,” Wiens said. “I felt it was important, even in smaller amounts, to start giving early. It wasn’t just how Tabor influenced me, but for it to be an outlet where I could be part of furthering Christ’s mission and supporting others in the kingdom of God.”
As he grew in his career, Wiens began to see the impact Tabor had on him and other graduates he had met over the past 16 years. Now part of Dugan Consulting Group in Wichita, Kan., Wiens frequently travels to the Kansas State Capitol to work in government relations through an advocacy and consulting role.
That includes interactions with fellow Bluejay alumni in the Capitol Building in Topeka, Kan.
“Some of these people have been important to my professional life too, meeting them and helping me earn positions along the way,” he said. “We have a smaller alumni network, but you know when we meet each other that we have shared experiences as former students. At a larger institution, you may meet a fellow alum and not have any shared experiences.”
It has only deepened his desire to support future Tabor graduates, knowing sometimes it begins with a modest gift and increases as careers progress.
“Virtually everyone in the alumni network has been blessed by a scholarship,” Wiens said. “Giving back is a crucial part of that, and I’d encourage everyone to think about what that can look like for them in supporting current and future Tabor students.”
Wiens encourages other alumni to engage with Tabor in a multitude of ways, knowing that participation can open more opportunities for alumni or future generations of students. It may someday be that Wiens and his wife, Kelsey (Mann g’12), could see one or more of their four children attend Tabor.
“We should desire to provide these opportunities for others,” he said. “Think about giving back, even if it’s in a small way. Get engaged, stay plugged in through giving and the alumni network. So many of us know Tabor was a special place and we want those opportunities to be available for generations to come.”