One of the most unique events every fall semester at NOBTS is Pink Day.
Every October, one specific day is dedicated for NOBTS students, faculty and staff to wear pink and purchase baked goods in honor of breast cancer awareness.
But beyond merely raising awareness, the NOBTS family has the opportunity to raise money for a scholarship that honors the memory of a beloved alumni with a heart for missions.
The money raised on Pink Day goes to fund a scholarship for female students with a potential interest in doing missions. The scholarship honors the memory of alum Kym Wilson, who passed away from cancer after serving as an IMB missionary.
Vanee Daure, NOBTS campus concierge, was good friends with Wilson and has been one of the main organizers of Pink Day for more than 15 years.
“Not long after Kym died, I thought that we needed to do something in memory of her," Daure said.
"She meant so much to so many people, and I wanted her memory to continue by helping other girls going into missions. I wanted to help their dreams come true through this, so I worked with the seminary to create a scholarship in her name and we started Pink Day as a way to raise money for it."
Daure said Pink Day is her favorite day of the semester, and she enthusiastically anticipates it every year.
"It's a really fun day because a lot of the students participate by wearing pink and I get to share with them about Kym," she said.
"She was hoping to go overseas and spend the rest of her life there, but she wasn't able to. The girls who get the scholarship and are able to do missions continue her legacy."
Wilson attended NOBTS in the late 90s and graduated in 2000 with a Master of Divinity focused on missions. She held a variety of jobs at the seminary while in school and briefly served as NOBTS housing director after graduating.
After leaving NOBTS, Wilson became a missionary with the IMB but was soon diagnosed with breast cancer at age 35 while serving in Southeast Asia.
She returned to the United States and endured nearly 3 years of cancer treatment and recovery. This treatment included a double mastectomy, six rounds of chemo, 43 rounds of radiation and reconstruction surgery.
Wilson returned to Southeast Asia in 2005 but was diagnosed with a brain tumor just a few months later. She again returned to America to have several brain surgeries and chemotherapy.
During this stay in the United States, Wilson wanted to return to NOBTS to see friends and to tell people her story. Her journey back to NOBTS was not easy, as she endured two separate car accidents, but it was ultimately worth it as she shared her testimony with several different groups of women.
“When she came back to the seminary, she just wanted to tell people her story, particularly the young ladies on campus," Daure said. "She did not want what happened to her to happen to others, so she encouraged ladies to stay up to date on their cancer screenings.”
In a famous quote regarding her story, Wilson said, "My Lord is the greatest. He has remained my rock through all of this and continues to strengthen and guide me through it."
Wilson passed away on May 20, 2008, prompting Daure to soon help start the Kym Wilson Memorial Scholarship.
Daure believes five or six students in total have received this scholarship over the years, and one woman who received the scholarship went on to become a full-time IMB missionary.
"It's neat to see some ladies who have received this scholarship here on campus and to know that they are continuing their education because of Kym," Daure said.
"I may not be able to go on the mission field, but I can at least make it possible for other young ladies to go on the mission field."
