Bishop and Gunden Family Scholarship in Athletics

Tom and Trinda Bishop (Denver, Colorado) and Ron and Linda Gunden (Oak Park, Illinois) have a friendship that dates back to 1965 when Tom, Trinda and Ron met as Goshen College freshmen.  The three graduated from Goshen in 1969 and Linda received her Goshen diploma in 1991, having put her education on hold for more than 20 years.  In the intervening years the two families have maintained a strong friendship that continues today, including numerous vacations and long weekends together, and staying in touch in a variety of ways.

Both the Gundens and the Bishops continued their involvement with Goshen College after graduation.  The Gundens were college administrators for a total of 22 years.  For 16 years, Ron was associate director and director of college relations; during that time he led the $51 million Uncommon Cause, Century Two Campaign.  Linda was the first assistant director in the degree completion program, working there for six years.  The Bishops have served Goshen College for a total of 30 years in various volunteer capacities.  Tom was a member and president of the Alumni Board for three years and later spent nine years with the Board of Overseers.  For approximately 15 years Trinda has assisted Goshen’s student recruitment activities in the Denver area, and was a member herself of the Alumni Board for three years.

Each family has two children—Zachary and Griffen Bishop, and Lisa and Angela Gunden—who renewed their connections and friendships as Goshen College students in the 1990s.  All four graduated from GC, three majoring in business and one in accounting.  Lisa and Angela are married to GC graduates, Scott Schmucker and Seth Kauffman.

The Bishop and Gunden families have strong interests in academics, sports and athletics and believe in the value of a healthy, balanced life that includes body, mind and spirit.  All four of the children and Trinda Bishop participated in a variety of intercollegiate sports while students at GC, including field hockey, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, women’s soccer and softball.  Linda Gunden and the four children each received GC academic and/or athletic scholarships and other forms of tuition assistance.

By establishing the Bishop and Gunden Family Scholarship in Athletics, both families want to promote academic excellence and a strong athletic program.  They also want to express gratitude to Goshen College for the excellent education and financial assistance they received, and to celebrate the wonderful friendships that first began at Goshen more than 35 years ago.  It is their wish that the recipients of these scholarships will, after graduation, establish similar scholarships of their own and contribute regularly to GC, thus passing the opportunity for a Goshen College education along to another generation of students.