This week, the nine student body presidents of the Nazarene schools from across the U.S. and Canada met with the vice presidents for student development and the directors of community life from each of the nine schools. While they were here, we shared best practices, discussed issues in higher education in the Nazarene church, voted on changes for the Nazarene Student Leadership Conference and explored San Diego.
Chelsea Risinger
Olivet Nazarene University
Location: Bourbonnais, Illinois
Major: Nursing
Year: Junior
Word she would use to describe her school: Friendly
“I don’t want to sound shallow, but I’m going to say ‘friendly.’ …[The Huff Post] rated us the [14th] friendliest campus in the nation. It’s a product of our community on campus. We’re very friendly. You can’t walk on campus after break and not get a hug or five. It’s great . It’s wonderful to grow in and have that spiritual connection with everyone.”
Jordan Leibold
Southern Nazarene University
Location: Bethany, Oklahoma
Major: Urban Ministry
Year: Senior
Word she would use to describe her school: Evolving
“We have students who are wrestling with new questions and being transformed and are figuring out new ways to do things.”
Samantha Moore
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Major: Business, Psychology
Year: Senior
Word she would use to describe her school: Community
“Especially lately, our school has been a lot about community. We recently had a death in our student body so it’s been sad, but I said community because whether you play a sport, whether you are an RA, you’re on ASG, whatever you do, if you do nothing, if you’re a commuter, or are just there for school, we’ve all really come together during this rough time and have been able to come together as community.”
Connor J. Back
Northwest Nazarene University
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Year: Senior
Word he would use to describe his school: We make fun
“I would say we make fun because there’s not a whole lot to do in Nampa, Idaho. We’re always finding things to do like making really big bonfires. Anyhow, that’s the best way I can describe NNU; we make our own fun.”
Megan Trees
Trevecca Nazarene University
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Major: Special Education
Year: Senior
Word she would use to describe her school: Community
“We have a really tight knit community. Everybody knows everybody and supports everybody.”
Ethan Briggs
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Location: Mount Vernon, Ohio
Major: Social Work
Year: Senior
Word he would use to describe his school: Changing
“It’s our motto, actually, life-changing so it’s kind of cliché. But with budget cuts and issues with student government members and student body issues and things like that, so I would say .
James Sylvester
Ambrose University
Location: Alberta, Canada
Major: Biology, Music
Year: Senior
Word he would use to describe his school: Open
“Being a university that does come from two different faith backgrounds, Nazarene and Alliance, we have a very ecumenical campus, but then we’re also open. We have people of different faith backgrounds also in attendance. It’s just a good place where you can feel accepted and can be a part of a community.”
Crystal Erb
Eastern Nazarene College
Location: Quincy, Massachusetts
Major: Special Education
Year: Senior
Word she would use to describe her school: Diversity
“We’re one of the most diverse Christian colleges and in all areas, not just race, but it’s really – I’m going to throw the word in, I think we probably all might – the community is super intentional about the diverse community that we do have, and just kind of building off of that in athletics, in music and theater, in every department everywhere, just really coming together as a school. We’re super diverse and it’s kind of cool.”
Video provided by The Point’s Samantha Watkins.
Steve Anderson 
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