CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL EDUCATION
From Student to Leader
Hollis Dudgeon ‘16 guides current Christian Scholars, creating a safe space for spiritual growth
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s a freshman at Georgetown College in 2012, Hollis Dudgeon ‘16 didn’t yet know which road to travel. She did, however, establish key relationships with friends and faculty mentors who would lead her into an exciting new chapter in her life. “I had so many friends in the Christian Scholars Program my first year, even if I wasn’t officially in the program,” said Dudgeon. “Dr. Ward’s Foundations class was also key in me deciding to further explore my faith and go down the path I would eventually go down.”
GC MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021
Designed to help students grow spiritually, the Christian Scholars Program presents students with mentorship, leadership, and mission trip opportunities. Each year, a fall break trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina, is a particular favorite for students.
CURIOSITY TO PASSION
15 then I break my leg…”
“My freshman year, of course, everyone is excited about Hilton Head, and
This small setback didn’t prevent Dudgeon from exploring the Christian Scholars Program further. Her friends
and several inspirational professors continued to inspire her curiosity. However, as sophomore year rolled around, her interest in the program transitioned from a curiosity to a passion. “After missing the Hilton Head trip my freshman year, I was so excited to go my sophomore year, and it was a profound experience. Connecting with my fellow classmates and some truly inspirational church leaders had a significant impact on my path at Georgetown and beyond.”
A CALL TO MINISTRY
As Dudgeon progressed through her degree at Georgetown College, she discovered her faith becoming more mature. She also began to question many preconceptions about her role in the Church and the world. “There were the beliefs that women couldn’t be in ministry and that homosexuality is evil,” she said. “Those beliefs felt very burdensome on me.” While feeling the weight of that burden, Dudgeon also felt a call to ministry. However, her youthful passion was quickly struck down by leaders in her own church. “I felt an initial call to ministry in high school. When I brought it up with leaders in my church, the response was ‘women can’t be in ministry.’ So I started thinking of more ‘practical’ routes to take. I thought maybe I’d be a doctor who goes on medical missions or go into business and work with charities. I was just stuck in that mindset.” Her passion, though, didn’t disappear. It simply lay dormant, waiting for just the right people and experiences to allow it to blossom. “Coming into college and being around different types of people, I feel like I found a different possibility for what faith could look like in a way that was so liberating.” Those faculty mentors who inspired Dudgeon in further exploring the Christian Scholars Program would continue to guide her growth, reignite her passion for ministry, and open her eyes to a world of possibilities.
