By Rachel Keeley, senior
As senior K.C. Orren prepares to complete his last semester at Friends University and graduate this May, he remembers when he realized Friends wasn’t a typical school.
“My very first year I came here, I couldn’t figure out Dr. Mark Bartel because he’s so quiet and soft spoken,” he said. “I remember before we went out to perform in my first Symphony of Spring, I gave him some Blow Pops. After the show was over, I noticed that Dr. Bartel still had the Blow Pop in his mouth. He had had it in his mouth the whole performance!”
After all the exams, papers and performances are completed, this year’s graduates will walk at commencement at 3 p.m. May 8 at the Hartman Arena and be finished with their time spent at Friends University. Looking back, the campus, the experiences and their future are all important to the graduates.
The Campus
Hannah Priebe, a studio art major with an emphasis in painting and a minor in graphic design, can remember Friends being a part of life ever since she was little.
“Due to my dad teaching here, it’s always been a part of my life since I was two or three. My sister Rebekah went to preschool here,” she said.
Anthony D’Alessio, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, stumbled across Friends through a friend.
“I didn’t know about Friends until I was a freshman at a different university. My friend in high school was looking at Friends, and I said I would go look with him,” he said. “I really liked the art department here. The size of Friends is perfect. I thought of it as its own community; everyone knows everyone.”
After being encouraged to audition for a music scholarship at Friends by Dr. David Weber, Kenneth Orren said he fell in love with the campus.
“I really liked the campus. It was pretty and easy to get around. Teachers like Webber, Bartel, Wilder, and all the music people were great. It definitely helped me out a lot with my voice,” he said.
Senior Whitney Million, English Literature major with a minor in drama, liked the campus for another reason.
“My dad had been working here for over seven years,” she said. “I was able to receive free tuition because of it.”
The Experiences
Despite their various backgrounds, the seniors reflected on experiencing good times at Friends University and will carry those memories after they throw their caps into the air.
“My first year here I didn’t know anyone. It was not until the latter end of freshman to sophomore year that I made life-long friends I see every day,” Million said. “You get familiar with people, and it becomes a part of you. I’m going to miss that part of me.”
Priebe agreed.
“I like the community. Anywhere I go, I always know people,” she said. “I’ve never had a class or go to an event where I don’t know someone.”
Orren had the opportunity to go to London through a Friends University class led by Donna Gibson and Arlen Honts.
“It was probably the best thing I have ever done. It’s definitely worth going,” he said.
The Future
While each reminisces on their time spent at Friends, the seniors are excited for their futures, even if they are not sure what it has in store.
“I’m not sure what I’ll be doing. I might go to cosmetology school,” said Priebe.
Million knows what she wants in life.
“I hope to get a better paying job and move out by the end of the year,” she said. "Hopefully I’ll get married and be a mom.”
After moving back to his hometown of Odessa, Texas, and saving up some money, Orren has a country goal in mind.
“After a year of moving back, I hope to move to Nashville to sing and perform,” he said.
D’Alessio would like to put his degree to use.
“I would like to do missions work and do art and graphic design on the side. Or work for a Christian organization doing their graphic design,” he said. “Right now I’m just waiting for God to tell me.”
Although there have been some qualms about being the first class to walk at Hartman Arena, Orren is excited for it.
“I’ve never been there, but I know Alan Jackson opened the Hartman Arena,” he said. “If a country music star opened there, it has to be all right.”