Over the summer break, students from around the university continued representing the Lord
and Liberty in competition, service, and real-world experience in their respective fields.
Taking Off
The School of Engineering‘s Liberty Rocketry team competed in the International Rocket Engineering Competition in June in Midland, Texas. Its rocket, Trinity, reached an altitude of 9,691 feet with a no-damage recovery, landing the team in 57th place overall out of 143 collegiate entries from around the world. During the event, the students also networked with experts from SpaceX, Blue Origin, and other aerospace companies.
Hope in the Darkness
Eight students and two faculty members from the Department of Community Care & Counseling traveled to Athens, Greece, in June to work with several ministries in caring for women formerly and currently ensnared in prostitution. They served at a safehouse that provides shelter and counseling and helped teach life skills to women to support themselves financially after recovering from trafficking. The students also helped provide medical care for immigrants and packed and distributed meals to the homeless.
Law Lessons
Eight School of Law students were invited by distinguished trial attorney Mark Lanier to attend Lanier Trial Academy in Houston in June. Lanier is one of the foremost civil trial lawyers in the U.S. The academy featured sessions on how to communicate effectively during a trial, the use of AI for visual aids, the neuroscience behind persuasive techniques, factors in choosing a jury, and more. Students also participated in networking sessions where they connected with attorneys and vendors.
Hitting the Road
Two vehicle teams from the School of Engineering showcased their mechanical skills at national competitions. The Liberty Motorsports Formula SAE team raced at Michigan International Speedway in May, placing 35 out of 120 teams. The Baja SAE team came in at a program-best 42nd place out of 98 vehicles at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Md., in June.
Success in the Skies
The School of Aeronautics‘ two all-female teams, the Liberty Belles, finished second and fifth out of 18 collegiate teams in the 48th annual Air Race Classic in June, marking this year the best in program history. The teams departed Boone County Regional Airport in Harrison, Ark., and flew 1,900 miles to Felts Field in Spokane, Wash. The winning teams are not determined by the time it takes to complete the course but by the highest average speed above their designated handicap. The historic race was inspired by the Women’s Air Derby, which was founded in 1929 and featured Amelia Earhart among its competitors.
Right on Pitch
Three graduate students from the School of Business and School of Communication & the Arts finished runner-up at this year’s Effie Collegiate Competition in late May, where they showcased their “For Whatever’s Next” campaign to marketing executives at Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle. The competition challenged teams to create a fully integrated marketing campaign to reach the national Gen Z demographic about the benefits of an Amazon Prime membership.
Sports on Mission
A team of 13 Liberty University Club Sports student-athletes and staff embarked on a sports ministry trip with missionary partners in Vietnam in June. A key highlight of the trip was a two-day sports camp held at a church in a remote mountain village that served as a powerful platform for both athletic and spiritual impact, drawing over 100 youth.
Up Close with History
In the middle of May, eight students from the Department of History participated in a weeklong intensive course that involved organizing thousands of artifacts from Mead’s Tavern. Built in 1763, the tavern is the oldest standing structure in Central Virginia. Since being purchased by the university in 2015, the site has served as a living archaeological laboratory for students. With over 100,000 artifacts cataloged in boxes, the students helped research and document items, which included ceramic sherds, buttons, coins, and clay pipe fragments.
On Tour
In May, the School of Music’s modern worship band, Vessel, which regularly leads worship on campus and in churches, continued its ministry into the summer with a tour through Germany. The nine-member group led worship at Bible Seminary of Bonn and at several churches and schools throughout Cologne, Bornheim, Niedernberg, Lemgo, and Detmold.
