Sample Stories

 
Devin Olson

Major:  Communications - Broadcast Journalism 
Graduation Year:  2010

My time at Liberty has translated into the most incredible three years of my life so far.  The people and sense of community are incomparable. The connections I've made here will last a lifetime. But, more than anything, the drive to apply what we learn to change lives for Christ is what I love most about Liberty.  I'm just like any other Liberty student in the fact that I'm dying to help transform the world for Christ, but my specific calling's definitely a lot less common.  I want to thoroughly master what I would argue to be the most powerful storytelling medium that's ever existed: the power of the audiovisual experience.  I know the thought-provoking power that movies and even three-minute music videos have had on me, and now it's my turn to create the messages.  If your audience walks away saying, "Wow, that was cool!" that's one thing, but if they walk away changed, inspired, or thinking a little deeper than before, you've really started to accomplish something.

Kristen Gonzalez

Major: Visual and Communication Arts - Studio Art
Minor: Graphic Design
Graduation Year: May 2009

Looking back on my four years at the school that inexplicably drew me in, I could hardly be happier with my experience. I still remember my very first campus church experience making me cry while at the same time making me feel so sure that I was exactly where God wanted me to be. Words cannot even describe how much God has grown me both into adulthood and into spiritual maturity. At Liberty I have really discovered who I am through the friendships I've made and God's constant teaching. The Lord has matured me so much through changing relationships, switching my major to what He truly wants me to do, and meeting the man that I will marry in October of this year.
 
My ultimate goal after I graduate this May is to work towards reclaiming the world of the arts for God. Art was once used by the church to further the kingdom, and now it seems to have swung into the hands of evil, where even abortion is used as an art form.

I would love to teach high school art, and perhaps eventually college, in order to send more Christian artists into this world. I will be returning this summer to the company where I completed my internship where I will teach a variety of mediums to ages 4-18. This company is a non-Christian environment, and I have really grown to love the people I worked with and the children I taught. I would love to go for my Masters in Fine Art and return to teach at Liberty because I know that we are in great need of more teachers who love the Lord. If God provides the means, then I believe that is where I would most like to be in the future.

Danny Rocco

Head Football Coach

I was convinced that Liberty University was the place for me and my family after I met with Dr. Jerry Falwell.  Dr. Falwell shared with me his vision for Liberty University in its efforts to raise Champions for Christ.  It was his passion and love for the students and the University which really caught my attention.  I was confident that we could build a championship caliber football program at Liberty University which would offer an amazing platform for the University’s mission.

I have been involved in coaching for over 25 years.  Before arriving at Liberty, I had coached at several of the largest and most prominent football programs in the country.  I also had the opportunity to coach for the New York Jets in the National Football League. My experience at Liberty University has been the most rewarding experience of my professional career.  I appreciate the support that I have received from the administration, the student body, as well as the local community.  I greatly enjoy being around our student-athletes on a daily basis.  I am excited about the challenges of the job as well as the future of our program.

We are very involved with the concept of whole  person development.  We challenge our student-athletes in all areas of their lives.  We are committed to supporting our players in the areas of athletic, academic, social, and spiritual growth.  Winning on the field isn’t enough.  We believe it is our responsibility to instill character and unity within our program.  I believe that through athletics we are offered an amazing platform to represent the mission of Liberty University and to build Champions for Christ.

Jenna Sailsbury

Graduation Year: 2012

Being able to come to Liberty for the past year has increased my level of knowledge on both an academic level and a spiritual one. I always knew that I wanted to attend a Christian college, and I know that when God opened the doors for me to come to Liberty, He definitely was preparing me for a change in my life. Although receiving a college education is very important, I feel as though God brought me here for a greater purpose. Having Leukemia and missing out on all my middle school and half of my high school education was very hard for me as a teenager to understand. Many times I did not understand why God would allow me to go through something that horrific. As I got older I began realizing that God had spared my life for a purpose, and would use me for something far greater than I could ever imagine. I truly believe that Liberty is a stepping stone that God is using to mold me into the person He wants me to be. I love hearing the different speakers who come to Convocation. Their love inspires me to know that God can use anyone, even those who fear they cannot be used. I do not know how to express my gratitude to Liberty and those involved in making it possible for my sister and me to attend, but I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart.