Shannon Dewar
Basics Jr. Director
 
What do you do?
 I am the coordinator for the Basics Jr. program on Wednesday nights for Kindergartners and 1st graders. 
 
What do you love most about your job?
I love interacting with kids and college students. I used to be an elementary school teacher and miss those days. Kids have a joy about them that catches on when you’re around them. I love seeing their smiles light up as they walk through the doors of UCC each Wednesday night, excited to meet with their college leaders. Being able to be a vessel for God to share His word with the children in Basics Jr. is a blessing.
 
A little bit about your background?
I grew up in the Pittsburgh, PA area and graduated from Geneva College with a degree in elementary education and a minor in Spanish. My husband, Brian, and I lived in Chapel Hill, NC for 12 years where I taught 1st and 2nd grade and worked for a few years as an office administrator. After our first child was born, I became a stay-at-home mom. We moved to Upland, IN in 2010 so Brian could take a teaching position in the Biology department at Taylor University. We have been attending UCC since we moved here, and I’ve been involved with many of the children’s ministries over the years including Nursery, Jr. Church, and Kid’s Hope. We now have 4 children, 3 with us and 1 called Home to Jesus. Saying “goodbye for now” to my son, Kade, was the hardest thing I’ve had to do, but knowing that we do not “grieve as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13b) allows me to continue with joy that can only come from knowing Jesus. This joy is something I hope to share with others.
 
What are some of your personal favorites?
  • Food: Indian food, caramel M&Ms, and Starbucks Chai soy lattes (but not all at once!) 
  • Books: Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes, Catching the Wind by Melanie Dobson, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, A Visitor for Bear by Bonnie Becker
  • Hobbies: Running, hiking, reading, baking (and eating), tea with friends, playing tag with my kids
  • Quotes: “Friendship is born at the moment that one person says to another, ‘What, you too? I thought I was the only one!'” – C.S. Lewis