NW Valley Times

Daniel and Rebecca Sutphin have made a significant philanthropic contribution to Arizona Christian University (ACU), establishing the institution's first-ever endowed scholarship in its 64-year history. The couple, who had no prior connection to ACU, attribute their decision to "answering the call" they felt from God.

The Sutphins, parents of eight children whom they home-educate, met at a small Christian college in Tennessee. Their relationship evolved through their college years and Daniel’s early medical training. They married during Daniel’s surgical training while Rebecca was working as a public school teacher.

Their lives have been marked by what they describe as acts of faithfulness, often following what they believe to be divine guidance. One such instance led Rebecca to attend the college where she met Daniel instead of her preferred choice, the University of Tennessee.

Rebecca’s teaching experience in public schools revealed her aptitude for curriculum development but also highlighted her frustrations with the secular approach and standardized testing requirements. This led the couple to decide that Rebecca would leave public school teaching to home-educate their children.

Daniel noted the benefits of tailoring education to each child's strengths and weaknesses: “The ability to calibrate the curriculum in a manner that reflected each child’s strengths and weaknesses, and the ability to focus on what objectively matters, was very appealing to us.”

Over 17 years, Rebecca has devoted herself to educating their children at home. Her dedication inspired Daniel to honor her by establishing the Rebecca Sutphin Excellence in Teaching Endowed Scholarship at ACU. The scholarship aims to support female students pursuing elementary education who demonstrate a commitment similar to Rebecca's.

“We prayed for years to find a place where God was at work so we could join Him there,” Daniel stated. The couple felt drawn to ACU's core values and leadership and decided it was the right place for their investment.

The endowment will enable ACU to award an annual scholarship to a female student committed to serving in elementary education with a love for God. “We want other young women who face some of the challenges that Rebecca did...to find value in their calling,” said Daniel.

“Influencing the life of a child...what else could be more important?” he added.