CUI Family Grieves The Loss Of One Of Their Own

By Ben Rosehart

Aug 02 | 5:46 PM

IRVINE, Calif. – It is with heavy hearts that we share that our CUI family has lost one of our own.

Concordia softball alum Paige Finley Hilken died suddenly this past weekend at the age of 28. She leaves behind her husband, Christopher, who also attended Concordia, and five young children.

Paige graduated from CUI with her bachelor’s degree in biology in just a three-year span and was a Presidential Showcase Best Poster winner in 2013. She met her husband while attending CUI while he was enrolled in the Director of Christian Education (DCE) program. He now serves as pastor at North Coast Church.

A former pitcher for the CUI softball team from 2011 to 2013, she was a member of the 2013 Eagles squad that went on to capture the NAIA National Championship.

”Paige was simply amazing. She was brilliant, driven, kind, generous and always rooting for others to succeed. She pushed herself in everything that she did, and helped bring others up along the way. She was the kind of person that would spend her time figuring out ways to inspire and motivate others, and was passionate about her love for God and her love for her family.

CUI athletic director & head softball coach Crystal Rosenthal

Paige Finley (Hilken) graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2013 as a biology major and earned Scholar-Athlete recognition as a CUI softball player.

Paige was an exceptional student in the classroom and also both a GSAC Scholar-Athlete and NAIA Scholar-Athlete during her time in Irvine.

The CUI softball program paid tribute to Paige in an emotional post through social media:

“She was an amazing teammate to all, a joy to coach and a role model for so many,” continued Rosenthal. “We mourn with Christopher, her family and especially her children and we hope in the days and months to come that they can feel how much Paige was loved. This is a tremendous loss for all that knew Paige. She will never be forgotten.”

Funeral arrangements are planned for Saturday, August 7 at 10:00 A.M. at North Coast Church (Vista Campus) located in Vista, California.

A video live stream is planned for the service. For more information, please visit https://www.northcoastchurch.com/

Please keep her family in your prayers as we all do our best to learn on each other during this difficult time.

2013 CUI Softball NAIA National Champions team pic

Paige Finley Hilken (back row, sixth from the left) and her CUI teammates enjoyed a historic season in 2013 on the way to winning the NAIA National Championship

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