Beloved alumnus Nathan Peterson’s legacy carries a deep love and commitment to our international student community.
Nathan came to PBC as, in his words, “a raw recruit,” but he quickly embraced his new environment and endeared himself to the community as he fully engaged. He excelled academically and spiritually while making great friendships. As PBC has a significant percentage of international students, he saw a need to help them acclimate and he served them tirelessly. There are many who view him as their first great American friend.
Graduating from PBC in 2015 with a BTh (Magna Cum Laude) meant a great deal to Nathan as he viewed it as a commissioning to serve God and people wherever life took him. He later decided to also serve his country by becoming an Army Ranger Combat Medic where, through deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, he became affectionately known as “Doc” to many Rangers.
While Nathan’s original plan for joining the Army was to be a Chaplain, he soon learned that he’d need more experience to be a leader at that level. As his dad once told him, “You’ll need a little grey hair first”. This is what prompted him to join the elite Army Rangers as a medic – to gain that experience and future trust within the ranks. In one of his final conversations with his parents, he told his family that he was planning to attend George Fox University with a desire to continue his education and pursue becoming a counselor and a Chaplain. After his passing, a large contingent of Rangers paid their respects at his funeral service in July of 2021.
To celebrate his life of service and to honor his love for international students, his family has established this scholarship fund to assist international students in their journey through the school he loved.
Family, friends, and alumni wanting to give towards this wonderful scholarship to carry on Nathan’s legacy are welcome to do so online or by sending your tax-deductible donations to:
Portland Bible College
c/o: Office of Advancement
9150 NE Fremont St.
Portland, OR 97220
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