Josh Wandell will take his message to college on Sept. 2.
The East Side Elementary School principal will speak at Milligan College’s first convocation of the school year.
Wandell, 36, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in 2013. ALS is a disease of the nerve cells and currently does not have a cure.
The average life expectancy is two to five years from diagnosis.
Wandell is an inspiration, said Curtis Booher, an associate professor of Christian ministries at Milligan.
Booher will interview Wandell at the convocation.
“Since his ALS diagnosis, Josh has shared his struggle with the disease publicly while demonstrating unwavering faith,” said Booher. “He is an inspiration to many, as evidenced by the numerous ‘faith > fear’ yard signs throughout the region.”
Elizabethton High School alumnus Wandell played football collegiately for the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University before launching his career in education. He continues to serve as principal at East Side despite the disease, using a Segway to make his rounds at the school.
A national spotlight has been shone on ALS in recent weeks with the “Ice Bucket Challenge.”
In an effort to raise awareness and money to find a cure for the disease, people across the nation have participated in the challenge, a social media phenomenon that has raised more than $80 million for ALS research. At Milligan, many students and faculty have completed the challenge — including Milligan President Bill Greer — in support of Wandell.
The convocation will be Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 11 a.m. in the Mary B. Martin Auditorium in Seeger Chapel.
To learn more about spiritual formation events at Milligan, contact Campus Minister Brad Wallace at 461-8748 or visit www.milligan.edu/arts.