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native of Lake Elsinore, Calif., Courtney (Lovelace ’17) Horton came nearly 1,500 miles to York for a college tour during the fall of her senior year. Attending school in Nebraska wasn’t on her bucket list. In fact, she had never heard of York College before YC’s softball coach reached out to her. At the end of the campus visit and with a scholarship offer on the table, she knew it was worth the gamble. “I spent much of the summer before my freshman year talking with my future roommate, Morgan Moore, but we didn’t get to meet until move-in day,” Courtney said. That long distance friendship and some vague familiarity with other YC softball recruits was all she had to work with when she stepped back on campus as a student. Of course that is quickly remedied at a place like York, and before long, Courtney was making friends at every turn. The 115 lb., 5’4” framed freshman was anxious to expand her comfort zone and take advantage of the college experience. She jumped into a social club her freshman year and as a sophomore added cheerleading to her growing list. Then, she decided to volunteer as a greeter at church. “I thought it made such a difference having a warm welcome
Courtney and Molly Reyes, a fellow softball recruit from California, help paint a house as part of a freshman service project their first few days on campus.
when you walked in so I wanted to contribute to that,” she said. That summer she went on a Let’s Start Talking (LST) summer mission trip to Croatia. Her junior year, she was asked if she would intern with York Campus Ministries. She said, “Yes,” and then did it again her senior year. She was part of the Psych Club, a church youth intern, and the spiritual life coordinator for Theta Psi… all while playing four years of collegiate softball. At this point in the story one might think that Dr. Seuss with a twinkle in his eye could interject his famous line from Horton Hears a Who! — “Don’t give up! I believe in you all. A person’s a person, no matter how small!” Four years later, the unknown freshman from the west coast was voted by students as part of Homecoming Court, named an NAIA Scholar Athlete, honored by faculty and staff as Ms. York College, and graduated summa cum laude with a double major in psychology and criminal justice. Not surprising…not really. That an incoming student with zero midwest ties, unknown to everyone on campus, and starting from scratch with her identity could be the one voted as most representative of her graduating class? Yep, it’s been going on for decades. We call it 'The York Experience.’ Expanding your horizons and trying something new is promoted from day one. In fact, the admissions office uses the phrase Be More at YC when they’re talking to recruits about the unique opportunities they will have. Even now, visit the website york.edu/admissions and you’ll see this statement, “At York, we are intentionally small to create an environment where every student can thrive.” And before a student’s first week on campus is over, they’ll hear more than once, “You choose who you want to be.” Courtney chose wisely. She did what was expected, giving a hundred percent to her studies and her sport. But she also gave her time to transformative adventures and God-centered people who reciprocally invested in her, and it brought something totally new into Courtney’s life—she discovered God was pursuing her. ...continued next page FALL 2020 |
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