Empowering Servant Leaders: The Act Six Program
Reported By: Sophia Lumsdaine
Photographed By: Allison Martinet
According to Roserina Chipen, becoming an Act Six Scholar was something of a divine act by God. Chipen missed essay prompts and submitted components of her application passed the deadline; yet somehow, she was selected to be an Act Six scholar amidst a wide and competitive pool of applicants. “Whenever I feel myself drawing away from God I always remember the time of becoming an Act Six Scholar because that was a big highlight of my journey and walk with God,” she said.
The Act Six program is an organization that seeks out youth leaders–overwhelmingly students of color who come from underserved backgrounds–and sends them to four years of university for free.
Act Six is a national group, but the Portland/Salem branch has historically sent students to George Fox University (GFU), Warner Pacific University, and Corban University. Of the three, GFU is the only school taking Act Six scholars this year.
Chipen and Marake Wondwossen are now both in their fourth years at GFU and came into college in the same Act Six cohort. Both agree that being part of the program provided them immediate, and in many cases, lasting connection with their peers. Chipen stated that many of her closest friends are fellow Act Six scholars: “It was really nice coming into a university and already having that support system,” she said.
Upon their arrival, Wondwossen and Chipen recall being ushered into an extensive network of mentors and role models, one that has continued throughout their time at GFU.
Act Six alumni, as well as other mentors, have been a grounding and encouraging influence as Wondwossen and Chipen have gone through their college career. They cited adult advisors who no longer work at GFU, as well as current employees Jesse Cetz and D’Metri Mattocks.
Because they have backgrounds and life experiences different from many students at GFU, Wondwossen and Chipen discussed the real issue of feeling isolated or out of place at times. Mentors “instill in us [...] that our voice really does matter, even when we don't feel worthy of being here,” Wondwossen said.
The Act Six program has empowered and “opened the doors to leadership opportunities” for many scholars. “[There are] a lot of us that are in multiple leadership roles–more than one role a semester. A lot of us are in two to three or four,” Wondwossen noted.
Chipen shared a similar sentiment: “Being an Act Six scholar and then coming to Fox has allowed me to be who I really am […] and be what God calls me to be,” she said.
With their unique cultural identities and worldviews, Act Six Scholars “bring variety to campus,” Chipen explained. “We don’t just come and stay in our little corner,” she continued. “It's just natural to mix in with everybody else and bring that bridge together between the varying communities here at Fox.”
As they look beyond GFU in the coming years, Chipen and Wondossen both envision pursuing social work in some form. Both have a passion for serving youth and hope to return to their communities to work.
Wondossen is interested in topics surrounding mental health and services, while Chipen hopes to potentially start a resource center for her Micronesian and Pacific Islander community.
“[Act Six] is always a refresher of why we choose to be servants,” Wondossen said.
Wherever life takes them, it is this attitude of empowered humility that Chipen and Wondossen will carry with them as they serve their brothers and sisters.