On the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 22, Guilford alums Alex Kern ‘95 and Becca Grunko ’93 returned to their alma mater to speak about how their experiences in the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program influenced their career choices and dedication to service.
Their talk, “Life after Guilford: Adventures in Quakerism, Activism, and Family” was part of the Friends Center annual series of speakers.
“Quakers are known for service,” said IFP Gifts Discernment Coordinator Frank Massey. “We try to instill the idea of service, of a life of service to humanity. It’s part of the Quaker DNA.”
QLSP was started in 1992 by Max Carter. Devised as a way for Guilford College to identify dedicated Quakers seeking scholarships, Grunko and Kern were some of the first clerks.
After a brief introduction by Carter, Kern took the podium. He opened by saying, “Guilford opened up my life.”
Since graduating, Kern’s work has taken him from post-earthquake Haiti to Christian-Muslim conflict zones in northern Nigeria. He is currently Protestant chaplain for the Interfaith Chaplaincy at Brandeis University and executive director of Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries in Boston.
Grunko came to Guilford right after high school.
“While at Guilford, my understanding of what Quakerism was expanded and exploded,” said Grunko. “I worshipped at programmed meetings and read the writings of early Friends. During my time (at Guilford), I attended YouthQuake and the World Conference of Friends in Honduras — both incredible inter-Quaker experiences.”
After graduating, Grunko moved to Philadelphia, and she and Kern started dating a year later. While in Philadelphia, Grunko worked for the Friends World Committee for Consultation.
“Moving to Philadelphia was one of the bravest things I have ever done,” said Grunko. “I moved to an entirely new city where I knew only one person, just because I had a low-paying job for an organization I was excited about. Even though much of what I did was data entry, it was a small office and an interesting place to be.”
Eventually, however, she started thinking about the life she and Kern wanted to have long-term. “I wanted to have a balanced life,” said Grunko. In July 1999 Grunko and Kern were married, and after the honeymoon moved to Massachusetts.
“Even though I was only in QLSP, it had such a major impact on my life,” said Grunko. “It was exciting to feel supported in my exploration into Quaker belief, and I learned so much about service and what it means.”
“I am grateful to hear confirmation that the journey of discerning one’s calling is an ever-present process,” said sophomore Bonnie Hardee. “(Kerns and Grunko) seem avid to pursue their life callings as they fluctuate through different communities, and energetic to follow their leadings about parenthood and larger life decisions.”