Monday, July 23, 2007

Prospective students experience a taste of Boyce during preview weekend
April 09, 2007
By Garrett E. Wishall

Boyce faculty, staff and students hosted more than 100 prospective students and parents at the spring Boyce preview weekend, March 23-24.

Lauren Farmer, interim associate director of Student Life and Women's Life at Boyce, said preview weekend events like a dessert reception at the Mohlers' home helped prospective students put a name and face with the undergraduate institution.

"I think that the reception ... helped communicate that Boyce is not just another place where you can get a degree; rather it is a place where you will be known, encouraged and equipped for the ministry to which God has called you," she said. "This is what I tried to convey over and over to the prospective students: the administration, faculty and staff see their work as part of the ministry God has entrusted them with and deeply desire to see you mature as a person and as a minister of the Gospel."

Seventy-four prospective students and 125 total guests perused classes, interacted with faculty and students and took campus and housing tours during the weekend.

Friday evening, following dinner, prospective students and their parents were able to ask questions of Boyce Dean Jimmy Scroggins and Southern Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr., during an after dinner dialogue in the Legacy Center. Jon McKeithen, Boyce residency director, said the time of dialogue enabled students to grasp the vision of the college.

"I believe the dialogue was essential for helping [prospective] students get a feel for where the hearts of the leadership are at the school," he said. "[They learned that] It's not just an institution, it's a place where young people come to be better equipped ministers of the Gospel. It is a place where they can be ministered to by a faculty that has a desire to use their own ministry experience to train godly men and women who have the call of ministry on their life."

After the dialogue, the Mohlers opened their home for the dessert reception, which McKeithen said provided further opportunity for personal interaction.

Late Friday evening, the Boyce student life office and ambassadors hosted Late Nite with Boyce Student Life in the Health and Recreation center. A 3-on-3 basketball tournament, "wallyball" in the racquetball courts, billiards, foosball and ping pong were all part of the fun, as Boyce student leaders and other students mingled with prospective students.

During the day Friday, the college presented a lunch and information fair in Heritage Hall. Each department head made a presentation on his particular degree program, and prospective students could collect information on admissions, finan-cial aid, housing and other pertinent areas.

Saturday morning, Scott Davis, director of admissions for Southern and Boyce, and Chip Collins, associate dean for student life at Boyce, offered optional ministry seminars. Davis spoke on understanding God's call to ministry and Collins addressed preparing for ministry. The weekend concluded with a campus picnic in the cafeteria.

Kat Foxworth, a Boyce resident leader, said the preview weekend provided a great time of interaction with potential students.

"I was able to talk to several girls about class scheduling and what would be the best way to survive at Boyce, academically," she said. "I also was able to talk to a girl about dorm life in particular and what the benefits of it would be to her."

This summer, Boyce will host Apologetics University for high school and college students. "C2: Christ and Culture" is the topic for the conference, which is designed to equip students to defend their faith and be bold witnesses for the Gospel. The dates for the conference are June 7-9. For more information, visit www.boycecollege.com or email Dan DeWitt at .