Defender Alumni Spotlight

As the oldest in his family, Connor has three siblings, two of whom still attend Veritas, Ethan (VA ‘22) and Victor (VA  ‘31), and Emma (VA ‘18) who has followed in his footsteps and will graduate from Texas A&M in 2022. 

Connor is now back at Veritas in a dual capacity as both an SL/R instructor and Alumni Coordinator. Connor is reliving his days as president of the Math Club by teaching 6th Grade math and Elementary Algebra. He also serves as an assistant for the Senior Thesis Program, where he is able to use his valuable experience as Veritas 2015 Thesis winner. As Alumni Coordinator, Connor is seeking to (re-)connect with all 10 of our graduating classes to ensure Defender alumni are always able to call their Veritas classmates and community home. 

“I had absolutely no clue I wanted to teach until 2021. I went to school to do something entirely different, and even had a great job surrounded by great people for nearly two years. In the spring of this year, it became clear very quickly that God was calling me to make some type of change. After much talk and prayer with family and friends, I felt confident that the Lord was calling me to come to Veritas. I haven’t been here for too long, but my experience thus far has been amazingly fulfilling—and filled with a joy that I hadn’t remembered in a long, long time.”

1. What are you currently pursuing?

I am just finishing my freshman year at Texas A&M! I am in Company C-1 in the Corps of Cadets, and am currently pursuing a career as an infantry officer in the US Army! I was just named the Guidon Bearer of my outfit, which is considered a huge honor. The Guidon Bearer is the head sophomore who is in charge of all training of the freshmen. I also was made scholastics corporal, making it my job to make sure the freshmen are keeping up with their school work.

2. How has God been at work in you and through you since you graduated from Veritas?

God has put me in this place to challenge me. Throughout this year I’ve had to do some pretty difficult things and I think God gave me the will to do those things. He gave me the strength to do things I didn’t think I could physically do, and he helped me stick it out through some pretty tough academic situations.

3. What wisdom can you offer current Veritas students? 

The biggest thing for me is keeping up with friends from high school. When you graduate you will want to go off and make new friends, but you might fall in with the wrong crowd and end up feeling like you can’t trust anyone. That’s why I’m so thankful for my friends here at A&M I knew from high school.

4. Anything else you'd like to share about as you think back to your time at Veritas and experiences since?

I’d say that when I was in high school I would always push the rules, and I got away with it when there was nothing but marks on the line, but here there are very real consequences for doing much less. Take this time in high school to make it a habit to conduct yourself with integrity, because that will only help you in the future. Mr. Schu told me when I was a sophomore, “don’t be a rule pusher, cause someday the rules will push back and knock you down.”

1. What is happening with you lately?

I am currently finishing up my senior year at the University of Mississippi, which has been a wonderful time spent with friends and working on my senior thesis. It has been a low-key end to my college experience due to the pandemic, but I am enjoying more relaxing days and more time to work on my Honors Classics thesis. I've been spending my weekends either visiting museums in Mississippi and Tennessee with my boyfriend or visiting his family who lives near Ole Miss. We've been spending a lot of sweet time with them before we both move to Austin next year.

2. What are you currently pursuing?

I am currently about to graduate from undergrad at Ole Miss, and next year I will be attending the University of Texas School of Law! I am so excited to be back home in Austin with my family, and to be a part of my sister's senior year at Veritas! The law school application process has been a long road, and I am eagerly awaiting finally getting to live my dream of attending a top law school.

3. How has God been at work in you and through you since you graduated from Veritas?

Over the past four years, I have been blessed to be my sorority's chaplain, which has given me the opportunity to share my faith with my friends and to grow deeper in my relationship with God. When I first joined my sorority freshman year, our chapter was brand new, and the role of chaplain was vague and undeveloped. I established our weekly Bible study, in which my goal was always that every girl who wants to grow in her faith or learn more about Jesus should have the opportunity to do so in a loving and encouraging environment.

Growing a community of girls who also want to spend their Sunday afternoons delving into God's word has been my greatest accomplishment in college, and I am happy to see this community continue to grow under the new chaplain now that I am graduating. As I look back at my time in college, I am in awe of God's ability to work through me, even when I don't see it at the time. Thinking about all the decisions that have led me to where I am, and how little I knew about where I would end up, I am overwhelmingly thankful for His sovereignty and faithfulness.

4. Is there anything else you'd like to share as you think back to your time at Veritas and experiences since?

As someone in the process of writing a sixty-page thesis which I will have to defend very soon, I am thankful for the thesis experience at Veritas which prepared me for this research white whale I am currently pursuing. I will also always be thankful to my sixth grade English teacher at Veritas, who led a Bible study for the girls in my grade from sixth grade through our graduation, for the lasting impact she has had on my spiritual life, and the wonderful role model she has always been. The Veritas community is certainly a special one, and one which will always hold a special place in my heart.

1. Hi Ryker! What is happening with you lately? 

God has tremendously blessed me in both my personal and academic career since graduating from Veritas. God directed my path towards Liberty University via college athletics. While at Liberty, I met and married my beautiful wife! She played volleyball at Liberty and now works as an exercise physiologist. She is also pursuing a masters in nutrition and functional medicine. We were given a golden doodle puppy as a wedding gift and have enjoyed adventuring with her outdoors in the beautiful Virginia countryside. I am now getting a masters in biomedical science while working as a graduate student assistant (GSA) and an EMT. In exchange for free tuition and a small stipend, I teach four different anatomy labs a week to undergraduate nursing students. In addition to teaching, I am continuing my work as an EMT. I have been an EMT for the last five years and it was the job that helped me pay my way through college. I cannot emphasize enough how much God has provided for me since my time at Veritas. He has blessed me in every aspect of life and continues to provide for me and my wife! 

2. How has God been at work in you and through you since you graduated from Veritas?

Liberty University was where God wanted me after Veritas. My first two years in college were financially difficult for me. I started my college career with an athletic scholarship and help from my parents. My athletic scholarship was taken away after my sophomore year due to a coaching change. At that point, I was unsure if I would be able to continue my schooling, as I could not afford it. I worked hard and eventually found three different part time jobs that would allow me to stay in school! I worked diligently to put myself through school while also keeping my GPA high. I know God challenged me with these financial burdens, so that I never question if He would provide for me. This is just one example of the many times that I have seen God work in my life since graduating from Veritas. While no place is perfect, Liberty University allowed me to grow academically, personally, and spiritually. I would highly recommend it to any Veritas graduate. 

3. What are you currently pursuing? We'd love to hear a bit about your acceptance into three medical schools so far, and your hopes for medical school and your future career.

I will be starting medical school in the Fall of 2021. I have learned so much through the application process to medical school. During my first application cycle, I failed to reach the interview stage at any medical school that I applied to. It was humbling to realize that I fell short of my goal to become a physician. I started to doubt if I was really called to become a doctor, or if God was calling me to a different field. To put into perspective the doubt that creeped in, I will give you the numbers for the typical medical school. On average, the typical medical school I applied to receives about 5,000 applications a year. Of those 5,000, only about 500 are interviewed. Of those 500 interviewed, only about 100 are accepted. These numbers will vary slightly by medical school, but they are similar across the board. Based on these numbers, I had a 10% chance of getting an interview. If I did get an interview, I still only had about a 5% chance of being accepted. I knew these numbers well and dwelled upon them for the entire cycle. I was dejected. After much prayer, I decided to reapply the next cycle (a year later). In the new cycle, I received five different interview invitations within the first two months of the cycle and was accepted into three out of the four medical schools at which I interviewed! It was completely humbling to realize that everything that happens in life is in God’s perfect timing. The first medical school I was accepted to had an acceptance rate of 4.3%. I say all of these numbers not to brag, but rather to show that God is in control and can do anything! I am excited to begin my journey in medical school next fall. As a physician, I plan to work in a town like my hometown of Bastrop, while also participating in medical missions throughout the year. While I have not settled on a specialty, at this time I am leaning towards emergency medicine or general surgery. I have had some exposure to Samaritans Purse and Doctor’s Without Boarders, which I hope to be a part of post medical school. 

4. What wisdom can you offer current Veritas students? 

In high school, I was always an average student who loved to compete in house competitions and sports. I was able to compete in track, wrestling, football, tennis, and basketball while attending Veritas. Due to some of my success in sports, I believe many students and teachers saw me as a jock who would typically struggle with school. It is easy to fall into a stereotype that people judge you to be. People saw my skill on the court or field, but what they did not see was the time I spent in the weight room and in off-season training to get ready for each sport. I knew that the reason I excelled at anything [athletically] was my willingness to work hard. I learned in my junior and senior year at Veritas to apply this same work ethic towards my academics. My advice to current students is to learn how to work hard in school and start discovering your passions within the material. For me, I realized I wanted to pursue medicine in my junior year anatomy/physiology class. Finding that passion helped drive me to study. Lastly, the best wisdom I can offer a current Veritas student is to learn how to pursue the Lord. Veritas provides you with strong Christian principles that will aid in your pursuit of the Lord. Pursuing the Lord will be something you do for the rest of your life, therefore learn how to do it at Veritas so that you can continue your pursuit in your future endeavors. 

5. Is there anything else you'd like to share about as you think back to your time at Veritas and experiences since?

Personally, the people at Veritas taught me so much. The professors and coaches were truly invested in me and my future. They strove to make me a better person academically, athletically, and spiritually. The Christian environment developed by these leaders taught me to defend my beliefs in the face of adversity. I have worked with a variety of different people who have hardened hearts in the EMT community. I found myself having to defend my faith and other personal beliefs. I felt very prepared to enter this environment after my time at Veritas. Without the strong background from Veritas, I may not have been able to stand firm in my beliefs. Finally, the diversity of friendships I developed at Veritas showed me the types of friend groups I wanted to develop moving forward in life. I still keep into contact with several Veritas classmates, and it is exciting to see the people we have become!

Thanks, Ryker!

1. Hi Wes! Tell us a bit about your family and this season as a new husband and father.

Bethany, Silas, and I are doing well. We just celebrated Silas' 1st birthday in August with a small group of family and friends—He is growing faster than I ever thought a baby could. It is safe to say that Silas is the highlight of our lives at the moment, even if he wakes us up obscenely early in the morning. Having kids was something I always wanted and it is living up to my high expectations. Bethany is currently working as a full-time mom, staying with Silas and making sure he stays out of trouble. The joy that Bethany and I get from watching Silas do mundane things, like squeal with delight or learn how to crawl or eat new types of food, is something entirely different from any other joy that I have experienced in life before. Ultimately, our growing family was my primary motivator for starting Wesley’s Irrigation. I appreciate the flexibility to set my schedule so that I can participate in Silas' early days as much as possible.   

2. We’re delighted to hear about your new venture, Wesley’s Irrigation. Please share some insight into your entrepreneurial journey!

Since I got out of high school I have either worked part-time or full time doing landscaping and irrigation. I have worked for several companies in the Austin area over the past seven years and decided to take the leap and start something fresh and new with my brother-in-law Samuel in July. Wesley’s Irrigation officially opened its doors in the first week of August. I want to thank the entire Elequin family for helping me out in this venture. When I decided to start my own company, I knew that doing the irrigation work would be the least of my struggles. Scott Elequin was particularly helpful in getting this venture off the ground, I am not sure that I would have been able to start this business without the Elequins’ help. 

At Veritas I was always taught to love the art of learning. These past 7 years have been an incredible, difficult, and exhausting journey of learning the irrigation trade in and out. No matter which company I worked with or what type of projects I was assigned I always kept that love of learning. I may have started digging holes all day in the Texas heat, but I quickly earned the responsibility of designing and running projects for large residential properties, apartment complexes, and Zilker Botanical Gardens. While I now know enough to be confident on any project thrown my way, I know that I will always be learning new ways of doing things and getting better at my craft. 

My vision for Wesley's Irrigation is to maintain that growth-mindset, providing the best level of customer care and quality in central Texas. Some people exert extraordinary effort turning their landscape into a work of art and without irrigation that art cannot come to life. Despite everything going on in the world, I am convinced that this is just the first step down a road of success for myself and my growing family.

3. How else do you spend your time?

Apart from work and family which takes up pretty much all of my time I also am a youth pastor at Hope Chapel in north-central Austin and one day hope to be able to put more time and effort into ministry. When I can, I still play soccer. In fact, I coached a handful of current Veritas seniors when they were in 5-6th grade soccer. I’m looking forward to seeing the progress they have made these past few years, and I’m looking forward to bringing Silas to some high school soccer matches so that he gets a head start on his soccer training. 

For anyone who knew me while I was a student at Veritas I want to say that yes, I do still carve out time after Silas goes to bed to get in some time playing video games and board games. One of my monthly highlights before the pandemic hit was a monthly board game night that Bethany and I hosted for our church body. So, if Jef is reading this, I want him to know I only reemphasize the points I made in my thesis [The Game Changer: A Scientific Approach to Understanding the Role of Video Games in Society]. I can only imagine the bemused and unconvinced look on his face. Don't worry Jef, I am sure one day you will understand.

1. What is happening with you lately? 

Since stepping onto Hamilton’s campus last August, I entered a whirlwind of new people and opportunities. In September, I walked onto the Men’s Varsity Rowing team. Rowing occupies a lot of my time with practice, regattas, and travel, but I really enjoy the mental and physical challenges as well as the camaraderie and friendships that the sport brings to my life. I am a member of Hamilton’s Outing Club that sponsors weekly trips to the nearby Adirondack mountains. This past February we hiked a mountain entirely in snowshoes and were able to sled most of the way down. The trips are consistently fun yet exhausting. I also have a radio show every week on Hamilton’s student-run WHCL 88.7 FM where my co-DJ and I play movie soundtracks. Bantering and playing music for an hour on the air alleviates much of the stress that the week may bring. I am also a member of Hamilton’s Law Society. 

Hamilton, similar to Brown or Amherst, offers a completely open curriculum, which means that there is no mandatory core curriculum that I need to fulfill in order to graduate. The ability to choose your classes based on your own interests (and not requirements) is truly liberating and more enjoyable than being tied down to a core curriculum. I appreciate that I get to take classes with other students that on their own accord want to be in the classroom with me, rather than with students being forced to sit there. This want dramatically changes the classroom dynamic, leading to more fruitful discussions and outcomes. 

I am currently a Government major and considering a Spanish double major or minor. I really enjoy Hamilton's professors and small class sizes. Similar to Veritas, there’s a luxury in attending a 12 person discussion-based class. My biggest class in college so far has been a government intro class of 35 people. I’m happy to be able to develop relationships with my professors and classmates where conversation and learning can extend beyond the classroom.

2. How has God been at work in you and through you since you graduated from Veritas?

God has really proved to me His abundance in college. Everywhere I look, I see only new opportunities and challenges set before me. I feel immeasurably blessed by what I have been given and the people surrounding me. I am incredibly grateful to be where I am. 

3.  What do you hope to do after you graduate from college? 

Eventually I want to attend law school but following graduation I aim to gain some work experience and/or travel on a grant/fellowship. 

4. What wisdom can you offer current Veritas students? 

I would advise Veritas students to leave no stone unturned in the college application process. Out-of-state tuition might seem scary at first glance but many institutions’ sticker prices are not reflective of what you will actually pay. While there are a lot of good schools in Texas, it is not the paragon of higher education and you shouldn’t be afraid to look elsewhere. 

I would urge students to not discount schools based off of surface level impressions. As college life progresses, things you may have initially cared about (say, the size of their football stadium or a certain club on campus) will recede to the background. What comes to the foreground are the people. Familiarize yourself with the personality of the school and the people that fill its campus in order to judge if you would fit well within the communities there. The people that you could marry or hold a life long friendship with are significantly more important than the climate or the location of a college. 

Finally, college is the time in your life to grow. It’s often the most formative years of a person’s life. It’s the perfect time to join something you’ve never done before, take a class in something you don’t know anything about, visit a country you can’t pronounce, etc. Be wary of comfort and complacency. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things. 

This past year has really blown by and I feel like just yesterday I was in Rhetoric class with Donaldson and Hanenburg or going on a Double Dave’s food run with friends. Cherish your high school days as they are finite but at the same time relish in excitement for the future.

1. What is happening with you lately?

 I am majoring in finance, economics and accounting. Between all of that, my academic schedule is very busy and studying takes a large portion of my time, but I have loved the majority of my classes and I know I’m being well equipped for my future. Aside from that, I am involved in student government here at Baylor, serving as the sophomore class president, the Lady Bears basketball practice squad, and my fraternity, Kappa Omega Tau. It has been an awesome experience getting plugged into all of these different opportunities in college that aren’t available to the same extent in high school.

2. How has God been at work in you and through you since you graduated from Veritas?

God has been at work in my life in strong ways since I got to Baylor. Growing up I never really had to take ownership of my faith because I went to a Christian school and my family went to church every week so it was instilled in me from a young age whether I liked it or not. Now that I am out of my family’s immediate guidance, it has been a test for me to grow in my faith. But I have gotten plugged into a local church here and a bible study with some of my closest friends which has fostered a lot of spiritual growth and ownership of my faith.

3. What do you hope to do after you graduate from college?

After I graduate, I think I want to go into corporate finance initially. I think in doing so, I will learn more and gain more valuable experience than I could anywhere else. After gaining some experience and creating a strong foundation, I want to go into social entrepreneurship, potentially in a developing country. I think the best way to help a country develop is not by providing them with handouts, but rather by creating an economy through entrepreneurship and helping create jobs and that is something about which I am passionate.

4. What wisdom can you offer current Veritas students?

 I would advise current Veritas students to put themselves out there when they get to college. College is such an awesome experience and lifelong friends will be made and I think in order to fully experience it, you need to step out of your comfort zone and try new things and get involved in different groups. I would hate for them to look back and realize they missed out on an opportunity because they didn’t want to step out and try it.

5. Anything else you'd like to share about as you think back to your time at Veritas or your first years of college?

Veritas did a great job preparing me for college for a few reasons. First of all, I was ready for the academic rigor. While much of the material is still plenty hard for me, I was forced to work hard in high school and learn how to tackle tough material and assignments. Second, I learned how I could be friends with a wide variety of people, even if we may have very different personalities and traits, a skill that is extremely valuable in college and as an adult, I believe. Finally, learning in an academically rigorous school while maintaining a Christian outlook has taught me how to stand up for my faith in an academic setting when some of my professors may be more spiritually liberal or not share all of my beliefs.

1. What is happening with you lately?  

Veritas electives led to my current job. I learned to rock climb in A.J. Hanenburg's SR climbing class and kept it up in college. Watching God use my climbing habit for many different purposes has been very cool.

I design and fabricate new surgical instruments for a medical device startup in Houston. The company, Flexios, is led by a surgeon and the chair of bioengineering at Rice. The chair, Michael W. Deem, is a rock climber, and we met while climbing in the University of Houston gym. He offered me an initial internship while we were standing around in our harnesses at the wall. It was the best job interview scenario I can imagine.

Last month, I sat in an operating room and watched a woman undergo hand surgery. She had cut a tendon (and some nerves and bone) while slicing an avocado. There's a 20% chance that her tendon won't heal properly; it might come apart again or scar excessively, leading to lifelong finger stiffness.

Dr. Forrest Roth (Flexios' co-founder) recognized the need for a better way to repair hand tendons. 20% is a very high failure rate for any medical procedure! I started working on the problem in late May 2016. My industrial design classes had prepared me to develop products, but this task was more weighty than any previous assignment.  I researched, drew out ideas, tested prototypes, and eventually presented Dr. Roth with a solution that worked.   We are currently refining the solution, and my duties look a little different. I am in conversation with manufacturers about producing the product. I am writing part of our application for FDA 510(k) clearance. I am thinking about GMP standards, types of investor equity, and sales strategies. On November 17, I'll be onstage in front of ~200 doctors and investors, giving a 6-minute presentation about our product. (Yes, my Veritas senior thesis helped prepare me for this!) The presentation concludes our time in the TMCx Accelerator Program. We applied over the summer and were selected, along with 9 other companies, out of 100 applicants. The TMCx staff has given us a crash course in medical device entrepreneurship. The whole thing has been, in one phrase, a thrilling challenge.

2. How has God been at work in you and through you since you graduated from Veritas?

As He promises to do, God has given me tests to help make me more like Christ. He's also given me more blessings than I counted on.  I've been tempted to complain and fear (because college classes are hard), tempted to pass judgment on others (because my classmates aren't often as excellent or agreeable as Veritas folk), tempted to misuse substances and my own body (because college culture encourages pleasure-seeking). I've given in sometimes and held up sometimes. Overall, I've been made more humble and more eager to rely on Him because of how He's challenged me in college.  He has also helped me be more brave about publicly proclaiming His works. I co-lead a Bible study in the College of Architecture and have discussed Christ's resurrection with everyone from believers to non-believers, transgender folks to atheists, employers to roommates, and strangers to best friends. It's been the most interesting part of my post-Veritas experience, and I long to keep such discussions on my agenda, even as it grows ever more full.

3.  What do you hope to do after you graduate from college?

I took a year off of college to work, and after I graduate from the University of Houston, I hope to come back to Flexios.  While I never wanted to go to graduate school, there is a program here in Houston that offers a doctor-engineer hybrid degr. That sounds pretty cool.

4. What wisdom can you offer current Veritas students?

1. Amount of stuff you move in with < amount of stuff you move out with. It's weird.
2. You might be surprised at the amount of toilet paper you buy. Also weird.
3. You don't always gain weight in college. Some of my friends and I actually had a freshman -15!
4. PARENTS: Before they go to college, have one last talk with your kids about how they're going to date. STUDENTS: Before you go to college, ask your parents' opinion on dating in college.

5. Anything else you'd like to share about as you think back to your time at Veritas or your first years of college?

People are surprised to hear that I loved high school. Be prepared to explain yourself, Veritasians, if you tell people that high school was educational and enjoyable. Thank you all for making it that way for me.

1. What have you been doing since leaving Veritas?

I'm a sophomore nursing major at Belmont, which I chose for it's 4-year, direct-entry nursing program,  and so far it has been amazing! I just bought my first pair of scrubs, stethoscope, and blood pressure cuff this semester and will start my first round of clinicals next semester. Currently, I have two jobs: one at Belmont FitRec as a facility assistant/weight room monitor and one at Nashville Aquatic Club as a swim coach of three swim classes! I've had them both since the second semester of my freshman year, and they're perfect but for me because they revolve around my second passion (right behind nursing), which is fitness and exercise. Both of the communities at FitRec and NAC helped me immensely to overcome my homesickness during my freshman year (13 hours is a long way from home!) by keeping me busy, something that I very quickly figured out was going to be key to my overall success in college. I am also part of Belmont Swim Club, which is a great place for me to continue my love of swimming alongside others who enjoy it just as much as myself. There is a wide variety of church options here in Nashville, so I really enjoyed visiting many of them with different groups of friends during my first year. I have found one that fits best for me now though, and I like it because it has a congregation with a good balance of college students and families.

2. What was a favorite course or professor?

How have you been impacted by that subject or person? My favorite 2 courses from last year were anatomy & physiology I and social work. They were two of my first nursing-focused classes and I adored both of my professors. It wasn't surprising to me that I enjoyed A&P, because I had also enjoyed it when I took it at Veritas with Kelsey Baird, but what was more interesting was that I was able to maintain my genuine joy for the material even when it got much tougher than I'd expected. This was mostly due to the fact that I was surrounded by other nursing majors who were just as motivated to ace the class as I was and a professor who sought to help each of us do that. The fact that I was fascinated by Social Work did shock me, because I thought it'd be boring and tedious, but I ended up looking forward to it every week because of the pure passion that the professor had for the subject. She had previously worked as a social worker herself, so her great ability to rave about her profession, and healthcare as a whole, made all the difference for my interest in that class.

3. How has God been at work in you and through you since you graduated from Veritas?

I think the biggest way that God has been working in my life since I left Veritas and moved to Nashville, is continually teaching me that He is enough for me. It was really hard to leave my family and friends to come to Belmont, even though I knew that was my best option for an excellent nursing school, and my initial reaction was to panic without the close proximity of the people who I'd always had in my life. Through the process of searching for churches, however, I was able to find worship unlike I'd ever known on Sunday mornings and throughout my week, and God made it very clear that he had surrounded me by countless new people to support me and point me toward Him. These included my nursing friends and classmates, my bosses and peers at my jobs, and my roommates and neighbors in my dorm. He has and still is teaching me in new ways every day that I'm never alone and that He will not ever leave me nor forsake me. 

4.  What do you hope to do after you graduate from college?

I am already so excited to begin my nursing career after college! Belmont has an amazing passing rate for the NCLEX and high employment rate right after graduation, so I feel confident that I will be able to find a nursing job either in Nashville or somewhere else in the country. I've considered furthering my education with a physician assistant or nurse practitioner degree, however I think that I want to work as a nurse first to get as much experience as possible in hospitals and clinics before deciding on either of those

5. What wisdom can you offer current Veritas students?

My wisdom to Veritas students is to work hard while you're there! It can be difficult to focus on school when you first get to college because you've left the comfort of your home and family, so put in the work when you're still in high school to figure out how you study and learn best, so that you're not struggling with that while also trying to navigate your freshman year! Also, make the most of your time with the close friends, teachers, tight-knit community that you have at Veritas. I'm sure you'll see that like me, you're going to miss them all when your short time with them is up. And looking back, it feels like it flew by way too fast! 

6. Anything else you'd like to share about as you think back to your time at Veritas or your first year at Belmont?

My 7 years at Veritas gave me amazing time management skills! They taught me that I'm a visual and kinesthetic learner, that I focus best on classes and homework when I have a strict schedule, and that I have to study in a somewhat-busy place because awkward silence is more distracting to me than background noise. I saw so many of my college friends struggle during their first semester to figure out all of these things about themselves, while I had already done that my freshman year at Veritas, so I was able to focus on making good grades instead of drowning in too much free time. Of course, this is mostly thanks to Veritas's "college model" that I truly believe served its purpose in preparing me well for my first year at Belmont!

1. What have you been doing since leaving Veritas?

Since leaving Veritas I have been a student at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, for almost two years. This month I declared my major to be a bridge major between History and International Studies with a focus on Europe. Through Rhodes I have had the opportunity to study abroad in the fall of 2015 at Oxford University, serve as a captain of the Rhodes College Crew team, work within the President’s Office at Rhodes, host a radio show, and serve as a Rhodes Diplomat (ambassador/tour guide) among many other things.

2. What was a favorite course or professor? How have you been impacted by that subject or person?

One of my favorite professors from my time spent at Rhodes so far is my current philosophy professor, Patrick Shade. I am in his Early Modern Philosophy course, studying the works and ideas of Descartes, Hume, and Kant. Professor Shade has cultivated within me an interest in and a love of philosophy through connecting our material to my own personal life as we talk during office hours. I’m thankful that he takes the time to grow his students into deep-thinking individuals rather than into fact-spitting automatons.

3. How has God been at work in you and through you since you graduated from Veritas?

God has strengthened my relationship with him since graduating from Veritas, helping me find a church in Memphis, Christ City Church, that has given me a solid Christian community outside of Rhodes. He has also shown me how much of a difference it makes to trust Him. It has by no means been an easy journey so far, but He has given me strength and encouragement to seek more of Him.

4.  What do you hope to do after you graduate from college?

At the moment, I do not have many plans as to what I will do after graduating from College. I hope to live overseas for a time, though I do not know where, for how long, or what for, but it is something I would like to do. Working within the Foreign Service interests me, but I am open to many things and am praying for direction.

5. What wisdom can you offer current Veritas students?

To Veritas students, I advise you to find some communities outside of Veritas in which to connect. I loved my friends at Veritas and the great community I had there, but in preparing for college life, it was very good for me to have gotten jobs both during the school year and during the summer as well as joining teams and groups away from Veritas. You may think you are busy now solely participating in Veritas-related activities, and I know some of you truly are busy, but it is a good idea to hop outside of your comfort zone to meet different people before you go to college. Build some good relationships to be your core ring of friends, but do not turn your back on the incredible characters you were too nervous to talk to.

6. Anything else you'd like to share about as you think back to your time at Veritas or your first year and a half at Rhodes?

Try new things. It takes a little boldness at first and you may not like some of the things you try, but those should not cause you to close your eyes to new opportunities for discovery. You may realize that you really do enjoy Bollywood dancing.

What have you been doing since leaving Veritas?

I am attending college at Hope College in Holland, MI, and I work on campus with Campus Safety as a student resource officer. I drive students to their field placements for different classes. Additionally, I am a member of the orchestra as well as the swim team. As of now, I am a double major in Music and Biology, a decision that has not come easily.

Elaborate on how you made your college decision?

I first looked at schools that had the opportunity to be in an orchestra and on the swim team. If the school didn’t have both of those, then it was ruled out. Additionally, I looked at the schools’ academic programs as well as class sizes. I was looking for a smaller school where I would have an opportunity to speak during class instead of constantly attending lectures.

What has been a favorite course or professor? How have you been impacted by that subject or person?

All the professors at Hope College are great, so it’s hard to pick a favorite as they all strive to better you as a person and student. I would choose, however, Dr. Fashun, Dr. Gruenler, or Dr. Bouma-Prediger (BP). They teach orchestra, cultural heritage (a philosophy, literature, history course), and religion, respectively. Dr. Gruenler’s and BP’s classes allowed us to talk in small groups about reading we had done for that day and helped us gain an understanding of what other students thought about the subject material. Dr. Gruenler’s class focused on literature before the 1700s including Aristotle, Boethius, Augustine, and Aquinas, so it was a flashback to government class. They really helped me to contemplate the meaning of life and happiness, and God’s role in both those aspects within our lives.

How has God been at work in you and through you since you graduated from Veritas?

God has definitely had a major hand in my life. When times are rough, he would lead me even though I didn’t know where I was going, and when times are good I can thank him for both the rough and the good times as you only know what good is by what is bad. He has shown me what my interests are and are not. I also have been blessed with friends that are passionate about Christ and desire to grow in relationship with Him.

What do you hope to do after you graduate from college?

I am not entirely sure what I want to do after I graduate from college, but if there is a way to integrate music and biology then that will most likely be it. I hope to teach private lessons in violin, possibly to research the impacts of music on the brain. Additionally, in the summers I hope to coach a summer league swim team, which I had the opportunity to do last year.

Anything you'd like to share with current Veritas students? 

Don’t worry too much about your major. Take a variety of classes, and it will come to you. Also, don’t get down on yourself if you do not do as well in a class as you thought you should have, learn from your mistakes, and move on.

What have you been doing since leaving Veritas?

I am currently a Sophomore studying Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University in Alabama. My time here has been a blast! While at Auburn, I have made many friends, and have gotten very involved in my church and a few campus clubs and organizations.

What has been a favorite course or professor? How have you been impacted by that subject or person?

My favorite course thus far has been my intro to aerospace. We learned a lot of information on planes and rockets, which I am very interested in -- we even got to build and launch a rocket in the course lab! The professor for that course was my favorite because he was very cool, hands-on, and made the class interesting.

How has God been at work in you and through you since you graduated from Veritas?

My faith has grown since I have been at college more than ever before. I have gotten involved in an amazing church where I attend a great weekly college service, life-changing small groups, and even have the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Germany this spring break.

What do you hope to do after you graduate from college?

I plan to graduate with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and get a job in the industry. My dream and goal is to live in Denver and specialize in aircraft design, but I’m open if God wants me to do something else.

What's a favorite Veritas memory?

The Senior class trip to Europe by a long shot! I felt like I was able to connect with my graduating class in a way I wasn't able to normally at school.

Anything you'd like to share with current Veritas students?

Press on in school, and strive to grow closer to Christ and strong in your faith. These things will dramatically shape you into the man or woman you want to be when you are in college. I guarantee that attending college can be one of the best times of your life. Also, while at Veritas, take advantage of the class trips the school has to offer like Red Cloud, Europe, Kenya, and D.C. It was during these trips that I was able to form strong friendships and connect with my classmates in new ways.

What have you been doing since leaving Veritas?

I'm currently a student at St. Edward's University, majoring in Digital Media Management. My major focuses on how business interacts with media and the entertainment industry. I knew nothing about business when I chose my major, so I've been spending a lot of time on schoolwork! I've been involved with volunteer work and mission trips, both through my church and campus programs. I also had the opportunity to play club volleyball last year and was able to travel to many different colleges to play other teams, which was a very unique experience. Other than that, I spend most of my free time hanging out with friends, going to concerts, and making late night trips to Kerbey Lane!

What was a favorite course or professor? How have you been impacted by that subject or person?

One of the best professors I have encountered at St. Edward's is Catherine MacDermott. I enrolled in her class, Business and Professional Speaking, as part of my required classes. Before the semester began, I did not expect to learn much from the class because I had already done thesis and theater at Veritas. However, Professor MacDermott taught me much more than how to deliver a speech! She encouraged students to visit her office hours and review their speeches with her. I ended up visiting her to review every speech I gave. She was very encouraging and knowledgeable and gave specific, practical advice that helped me improve my skills. She cared about my personal growth and not just about how I was doing in her class. Her influence made me want to fully embrace what college has to offer and to do my best in everything I do.

How has God been at work in you and through you since you graduated from Veritas?

God has been very active in my life recently. College has been a big change, and I do not adapt easily to big changes! Through all of these new experiences, He has been teaching me to rely on Him alone. He has constantly reinforced the fact that He has a plan for me and that no matter what I may be going through, He will guide me through to fulfill it. It doesn't matter how powerless we may sometimes feel, because we have the One who created everything by our side.

What do you hope to do after you graduate from college?

After I graduate, I hope to begin a career in the music industry. I am still unsure what specifically I want to do, but I know that I will be able to find fulfillment, especially if I am in a field that I love, like music.

What wisdom can you offer current Veritas students?

I would encourage currentVeritas students to take AP classes in order to receive credit and be exempt from some college courses. For some reason, I didn't quite understand that in high school and now wish I would have taken that opportunity! Another piece of advice I would give is to not worry about what you will major in. College is a great time to explore what you want to do with your future. You can take classes in subjects you are interested in, or you can take classes to help you choose a major if you have no idea. Don't be worried about changing majors, either. I changed mine four times during my freshman year and found the one I love by the end of that year. Things will work out!

What have you been up to since you left Veritas?

I've been pretty busy since I graduated Veritas! I am a pre-med student majoring in Neuroscience and it's been a fun and challenging ride so far. Being pre-med, I have had the opportunity to shadow doctors, volunteer at hospitals, and really get involved in the medical field. This semester I started participating in a neurobiology research lab at TCU. Our lab focuses on studying the causes of Alzheimer's disease and how the immune system affects learning and memory. In fact earlier this semester, I applied for a research grant through TCU, which was just recently accepted, to pursue my own independent project in the lab. I've also been very active in the Christian ministry Chi Alpha, which has weekly life groups as well as various service projects.

What have been your favorite classes or subjects? Why?

My favorite classes have definitely been the neuroscience classes. I took Neuropsychology last year, which was a detailed look at how the brain functions as well as a clinical analysis of various neurological disorders. It was fascinating to learn about diseases like Parkinson's, dyslexia, and Huntington's disease and how they work and where they originate. Another one of my favorite classes was the Psychology of Counseling, which was a deep analysis of different psychological approaches to counseling and therapy.

Can you share how God has changed, challenged, or used you since you have been at college?

I had the opportunity last spring to go on a mission trip to Colorado with Chi Alpha. We were there to help out a new church in Breckenridge, which has the lowest percentage of Christians in America. Seeing how this small church was trying to evangelize a largely unreached people really challenged me spiritually and caused me to rethink what being a believer in the mission field was really like. I even started to view the TCU campus as its own mission field that needed the word of God.

Do you have thoughts or encouragement to share with current Veritas students?

I would just say to work hard and take advantage of what Veritas has to offer. Veritas is a great school and is designed to help you out in college. Knowing good time management and study skills are key to doing well at any university.

Anything else you want to share as you reflect back on your time at Veritas or your first years in college?

My years at Veritas, while at times was rather stressful, were in the end very rewarding. Everything from learning how to contribute to group discussions to being able to understand complex government philosophies all have benefited me in college. While it may seem that everything in high school is meaningless, it will pay off eventually, I promise!

What are you studying, what classes have you enjoyed, what other things are you involved with at Notre Dame?

I am majoring in Computer Engineering. My favorite classes so far have been "Fundamentals of Computing" where I was introduced to the programming world and my literature seminar where I spent a whole semester with five other students discussing the Iliad. Though I’m completing a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) major, I have taken a variety of Literature, History, Philosophy, and Theology classes, which have been great experiences. I am involved with the Notre Dame Texas Club, Notre Dame Right to Life Club, Hispanic Engineers and Scientists, Society of Women Engineers, Notre Dame Classics Club, as well as being a student manager for my jobs on campus.

Can you share how God has changed, challenged, or used you since you have been in college?

College can be a difficult transition, and the added stress of classes and schoolwork can cause discouragement. It’s also a perfect opportunity for spiritual growth. Seeking God in times of hardship and stress is the greatest comfort. Here at Notre Dame, God has both changed and challenged me through my involvement in reaching out to younger students. He has encouraged me to be more outgoing and help welcome students into the spiritual community. College can challenge all your beliefs, so it’s important to be firm in what you believe and it’s encouraging to find a community of people with similar values.

Do you have thoughts to share with current Veritas students?

Don’t worry about being unsure of what you want to study! When I was applying to college, I was worried because I didn’t have any idea of what I wanted to major in. There are more majors than you can think of and it’s okay to wait until you get to college to explore what interests you. Take advantage of Veritas’ university-model! You’ve all heard this before, but it’s really true! Time-management is one of the most important skills you’ll need in college. Talk to your teachers! I never would have considered engineering if it weren’t for Dr. Kump, and I am extremely grateful that he was so passionate about his field that he took the time to tell me about it. If you find a class interesting, talk to the teacher and get to know more about the subject. Teachers are there to help you and Veritas teachers are especially passionate about what they teach. Also, college professors aren’t as intimidating if you’ve had some practice.

What else are you doing these days?

Throughout my college experience, promoting the engineering field has grown very important to me. I volunteer for events where we bring South Bend area students to campus and introduce them to engineering and work on fun projects to spark their interest.

Anything else you want to share as you reflect back on your time at Veritas or your first years in college?

I’m very thankful for having gone through the rigorous Humanities curriculum at Veritas. It gave me a head-start on classic books and a solid writing background. Though I was hesitant to participate in discussions in my high school classes, I see the importance of it now and am glad I had to do it because it made me more confident for discussions in my college classes.

Howdy! (That is an Aggie thing.) My name is Savannah Jenkins, I am a Biomedical Science major from Austin, Texas, and I am THE loudest, and THE proudest member of  the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2017. A-A-A-WHOOP! (That was another Aggie thing.) Here at A&M we have lots of things that we do. For example, now that I am a seasoned Sophomore I can whoop, which is an upper classmen privilege. So, WHOOP! It's better in person.

In addition to being an Aggie, l am a counselor for Impact, which is a Christian organization with the purpose of connecting incoming freshman to a church and the Christian community as a whole at A&M/Blinn. I am studying, as mentioned above, Biomedical Science with the intent to go on to medical school. I am incredibly excited for this opportunity, and am always amazed at the things God has worked out in my life up to this point.

To be honest, my major is quite challenging, and often times I find myself questioning all my previous life decisions, and consuming unhealthy amounts of chocolate. Nonetheless, Christ's power is made perfect in weakness, and being in college has taught me to rely on Him first and foremost. I can do absolutely nothing apart from His grace, and my life purpose is to tell other people about Him. It is so easy to get stuck in the day to day drudgery of studying and worrying about my GPA that I forget how much bigger God is than my time management skills, which are great thanks to Veritas (that was a shameless [though unsolicited!] plug). I've come to rely on His wisdom and strength and His purpose for my life and not my own. I've realized that it is really ok if you don't know exactly what you want to do because our purpose in life is clear: love God and love people, and you can do that anywhere.

I am so thankful for Veritas and the community that still encourages me to this day.

We reconnected with Nicole Benard, Veritas Class of 2013, who is back in the Austin area and is now a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Nicole graduated in the spring of 2021 from Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine
and is practicing her trade at Deep Roots Animal Clinic in Kyle, Texas. Reflecting on her time at Texas A&M, Nicole shared:

“I was always drawn to veterinary medicine because of the ability to serve both people and animals and how much of an opportunity it creates for both local and foreign missions. One of the highlights of Veterinary School was getting to go to Honduras and the Dominican Republic a few times and sharing the gospel while providing veterinary care. I would love to continue veterinary missions in the future, but I am currently re-learning how to navigate my relationship with God in my new everyday life. Missions are impactful and rewarding, and your regular life can be as well if you choose to see God in what you do. Living in a busy stressful world can be distracting and makes living missionally very challenging, but learning to maintain focus on the Gospel is so worth it!”

Thinking back on her time at Veritas, Nicole chose to leave us with this:

“I really do wish I could thank each teacher I had individually and tell them how much their effort and sacrifice means to me. I am realizing more and more that what they do is hard stuff, and I just want every teacher to know how they are truly appreciated!”

Cole and the Ransdell family have been a part of Veritas since 2014. After attending Veritas from grades 9-12, Cole has returned to work with Stevi Schuknecht in the advising department. After Veritas, Cole attended Texas A&M University, where he studied Communications. Cole is also the son of Veritas math teacher Phyllis Ransdell!  

We caught up with Cole to see what he’s been up to since his time at Veritas. Reflecting on his time at Texas A&M, Cole shared:

“Since Veritas, I have come to wrestle to make my faith my own… Junior year, I came to a dead end and submitted to God's desire for my life. The Holy Spirit put a desire in me to just submit and obey. Since then, life has been joyful. Whether it is reading the Bible, playing soccer, coaching, advising or being in nature, Jesus's promise to give us life to the full has really just made sense to me. Life is still life and there are days when it is hard and I am flawed beyond measure, but Jesus is our rock and our salvation. I think and realize how blessed I was to consistently hear this at Veritas, from my parents and at church.”

When asked if he had any advice for current students of Veritas, Cole shared: 

“Just submit to God's will for us. God's desires for us are infinitely times better than anything this world offers. In submission and yielding to God's way, there is freedom and fullness in relationships, academics, careers, hobbies and life overall. God is faithful with his promises… push yourself to learn more and try things you are interested in and maybe even not interested in. We are blessed to have staff who care about their material and their students. I am thankful Veritas encouraged that love of learning even when we as students weren't wanting that.”