Profile in Excellence

Anative 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 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.

Courtney began working at Beasley Allen Law Firm during law school in September 2018 as a law clerk in their consumer fraud section. She is currently an attorney in the same section working on attorney general litigation and pharmacy cases.

"Prior to going to York, I never knew God,” she said in a recent interview. “YC brought me to Jesus— through Him I have learned who I am and what He wants for my life."

In those opening college days, Courtney was invited by YC professors Dr. Billy and Christi Lones to be a part of their adopted family. Sitting down for a delicious family meal and having a place to hang out and do laundry was in a word, home. Even the Lones’ kids Cooper and Calleigh treated Courtney like she was their older sister.

Courtney remembers not being prepared for the Nebraska winters and receiving strong encouragement from Christi to help at the East Hill Church of Christ fall clothing exchange. “Mrs. Lones knew I didn’t have any winter clothes yet and essentially bullied me into coming and getting a coat,” Courtney smiled. “I volunteered for that any year I was available.”

Billy and Christi also studied the Bible with her and brought the stories she was hearing on campus to life. Courtney was baptized by Dr. Lones one week into her second semester.

Three years later as a Ms. YC candidate, she was asked to reflect

"YC brought me to Jesus—through Him I have learned who I am and what He wants for my life."

on her time as a student. “First and foremost I am now a Christian and I was not before York. I think the way I handle situations now has drastically changed as I have grown. I think I am a more gracious person, at least I aim to be. I just want to show Christ in all that I do. He is still working on me though.”

Through the encouragement and some prodding by Dr. Lones, Courtney applied and was accepted into his alma mater, the Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law in Montgomery, Ala. This past summer, she graduated and sat for the bar exam. Late September, she learned that she had passed and is now a member of the Alabama State Bar and an attorney at Beasley Allen Law Firm in their consumer fraud section.

When word reached the Lones’ household, Christi posted on Facebook: “I could not be any more proud of this girl if I tried. She got word that she passed the bar exam and now she is "official" at one of the biggest and most prestigious firms in Alabama. Courtney — I love, respect, and admire you. You are amazing!”

photo by Stan Foster, Faulkner Law

In August, Courtney was presented the Carter Award for the highest grade point average in her graduating class. Courtney poses with her trial teammates from the spring semester's school competitions.

Courtney looks back on the last few who I am," said Courtney. “The last from who I am in Christ and not what years that brought her to this new and three years have been very challenging, my accomplishments are. It sounds easy exciting phase in her life and shakes her testing me spiritually, mentally, and in theory, but with law school being head in almost disbelief. In August of sometimes physically! Truthfully, I don’t such a competitive environment, it was 2013, she was headed to a easy to feel more or small college in Nebraska, "I am first and foremost a child of God. I less worthy based on not knowing Jesus, and with no idea of what was in learned that my identity needs to come how you were doing academically. store for her future. Seven from who I am in Christ and not what my “Not only should years later and now more accomplishments are." I see myself made in than two thousand miles his likeness, but at YC away from Lake Elsinore, Calif., this know how I would have gotten through I learned that I need to see everyone I newly licensed attorney volunteers in it without knowing Jesus. My time at encounter as made in the image of God the church nursery and serves on the YC taught me that above all else— as well. When you see people with that greeting committee with her husband. above what my GPA is or how well I filter, you’re more willing to go and

Not surprising… not really. am doing in extracurricular activities— fight for them when they are unable to "YC prepared me for law school I am first and foremost a child of God. I fight for themselves." n by giving me a stronger foundation for learned that my identity needs to come by Steddon Sikes ’84

(below: l-r) Courtney was welcomed into Theta Psi with an all-out paintwar.

Sliding face first, Courtney scores a run during a home softball game. With time on her hands, Courtney joined the cheer and pom squad her sophomore year.

The LST trip to Croatia with Bre Goben and the Madoles was a life-changing adventure. 2017 Mr. and Ms. York College — Cameron Coleman and Courtney Lovelace.

Ready to take on the world, criminal justice graduates pose with Dr. Billy Lones.