Major: theater and communications

Career: Kate acts, directs, and does whatever is needed for a community-based theater company in Au burn, Alabama, called Small Time Outreach Productions. The company promotes theater in the community, presents plays on teen issues for local schools, and organizes productions in churches throughout the Southeast.

"Because Whitworth is a small liberal arts school, it allowed me to have more one-on-one time with my professors. Both of my main theater professors were instrumental in encouraging me to develop my talents, challenging me, and always trying to expand my horizons. It was those two professors who took me to the Christians in Theater Arts conference in 1998. The school was able to help provide financial aid for several of us to go, and that's where I auditioned for the job I have now."

Major: mass communications

Career: Eric works as feature producer/reporter with ESPN's "Scholastic Sports America." He gets to travel across the country to work with celebrities like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. He got valuable experience for his career by working as student manager for Covenant Productions, Anderson's video production house.

"The head of Anderson's broadcasting department, Donald Boggs, always supported me. He challenged me, which I was really grateful for. He asked me to floor- direct one of the Gaither Family Homecoming video shoots. As a college junior, directing [the Gaither videos] was a little intimidating. But Professor Boggs' encouragement helped give me the confidence to step up and do what needed to be done."

Major: Christian education

Career: Greg serves as director of relief/overseas personnel for World Hope International, a humanitarian organization that focuses on relief and development ministries. He coordinates volunteer travel and shipments to the 22 countries where World Hope works.

"Houghton gave me a lot of opportunities. I was involved in student activities and a number of campus events, like helping with orientation, working in the residence halls, playing intramurals, and serving on the campus activities board. These things prepared me to just dive right into projects and give them my best shot. Some would say I was overly active, but I think it benefits me now."

Major: political science

Career: Chris works in Washington, D.C., as a communications policy analyst for the National Republican Congressional Committee. He formerly worked as a staffer for House of Representatives majority whip, Texas Republican Tom DeLay.

"Hubert Morken is the professor who stands out the most. He was quite a visionary and inspired me to get into politics. And he was very passionate about what he believed. He was able to make students dig deeper than just studying for a test, actually getting us into the issues and helping us know where we stand. When I left his Comparative Government class, I found myself much more solidified in what I believe."

Major: biology

Career: Karrn, a second lieutenant in the Air Force reserves, was Student of the Year in her department at the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Science in Des Moines, Iowa, where she now attends. After medical school, she will serve full-time as an Air Force physician.

"Bethel's biology department is just incredible. When I completed my degree, I felt like I had a strong basis in the sciences. I spent a lot of time not only learning the material I had to learn for medical school, but also forming relationships with the professors. They gave me a lot of guidance and were really supportive. They worked a lot of long hours, and the students were always No. 1. I also liked how everything was taught from a Christian perspective. That meant a lot to me—to help me mature spiritually before I went out into the world."

Major: aeronautical science

Career: Priscilla works as a flight instructor in LeTourneau's aviation program. She's helping 70 students earn their wings by giving them the same encouragement she got from her profs. Only months after graduation, she was asked to return to the school as a flight instructor. It was an opportunity she says she couldn't turn down.

"What I learned through LeTourneau is to really rely on God for strength. Every time I fly, I try to say a quick prayer: Lord, help me to be the best and most effective instructor I can be to my students. When I've had a really long day, my students will come in energized, and I've got to come up with the energy to be motivated. A lot of times that's really hard. I've learned to rely on God to give me the strength and ability to teach."

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