Serving God

Dawn Noldan - Coordinator of A Special Place

Dawn L. Noldan grew up at North Shore Baptist Church where 6 generations of her family has attended and actively participated for over 90 years. She has always looked for ways to give back a little of what North Shore has given to her. Having served two years as a Sunday School teacher, 7 years as Church Clerk, 2 years as Official Board Secretary, served on the Education, Fellowship, Shepherding, and soon the Missions, committees, she has also participated in mission trips to Arizona, Nicaragua (twice), El Salvador, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.

Dawn grew up in Park Ridge and following High School attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale pursuing a degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising. Becoming disenchanted with school in general, she returned home to work in a private dress shop and then a fifteen-year career with Marshall Field’s at Old Orchard and State Street Her favorite departments were Men’s Accessories and Linens, but please don’t ask her how she feels about the new owners! (During this time, she attended Oakton Community College to earn her Associate Degree in Applied Sciences: Management and Supervision.)

After almost 20 years in retail, it was time for a change. So…Dawn followed a lifelong dream, as did mom Carol, to attend Culinary School. Quitting their respective jobs, they attended Kendall College in Evanston, to become the first mother-daughter team to be students simultaneously! Dawn did her internships as Camp Cook at Camp Grow, Markesan, Wisconsin, one of the ministries of the Green Lake Conference Center—American Baptist Assembly. She and her mom joined the Class of 2000, Dawn with her Associate Degree in Applied Sciences: Culinary Arts. To treat themselves, Carol and Dawn attended, but did not participate in the “Culinary Olympics”, called the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon, France. Wow, Magnifique!

Upon their return home, Dawn went to work at Carol’s Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop in Evanston, until Dawn’s father Bob’s health caused them to adjust their priorities in life. At this point, Dawn had been participating in fact-finding task force as to the need and feasibility of an After-School Program at North Shore. God, therefore, charted the course for her to work with the children she has come to love. The rest, you may say, is history!

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. --Hebrews 11:1