CHICAGO - s4story -- At the 2026 Honors Convocation, Wheaton College President Dr. Philip Ryken presented the Kenneth Gieser Presidential Award to Dr. Francis Umesiri, Associate Professor of Chemistry, for his outstanding role in promoting global literacy for orphans and street children. The prestigious annual award recognizes a faculty or staff member demonstrating a profound commitment to sharing the Gospel through impactful service beyond the college campus.

Dr. Umesiri, a specialist in organic medicinal chemistry, is the founder and CEO of Kharis Publishing. The independent Christian book publishing house has published over 100 titles focused on discipleship and leadership, with a strong emphasis on reaching readers across Africa.

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During the presentation, President Ryken highlighted the unique intersection of Dr. Umesiri's academic career and his ministerial outreach.

"Today's honoree has developed a small but thriving Christian publishing house... His vision is a fresh and deeper revelation of Christ to the hearts and minds of people inside and outside the local church," President Ryken stated. "Our honoree's publishing house also promotes orphan literacy by providing mini libraries with books, Bibles, and computers that empower children in his native Nigeria and other poorer countries to read, dream, and grow."
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Kharis Publishing operates on a dual-purpose, mission-driven model. A portion of all book proceeds directly funds the establishment of mini-libraries in orphanages and street homes across developing nations like Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana. These libraries feature physical books and computers pre-loaded with thousands of classic literary titles, equipping the next generation through education.

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Accepting the honor, Dr. Umesiri expressed gratitude for his team. "It is with deep gratitude that I accept this award on behalf of the workers and volunteers at Kharis Publishing who spend hours working behind the scenes to carry out this mission," said Dr. Umesiri.

About Kharis Publishing:

Kharis Publishing is an independent publisher based in the Greater Chicago area, specializing in Christian resources, self-help, memoirs, and inspirational fiction. Through its dual-purpose model, the press provides critical literacy tools and digital libraries to orphaned and underserved children globally. For more information, visit https://kharispublishing.com/kp/