Hesston College Transfer Student Profiles

Abby Byler

Class of 2019
From Harrisonburg, Virginia
Majoring in Nursing

What has your athletic experience been like?

I decided to join the women's soccer team at Hesston my sophomore year. It was an enjoyable experience as I was able to meet many new girls along with keeping my skills in soccer. I do not regret playing soccer in my second year since it gave me the opportunity to build friendships, learn to work as a team, and have lots of fun.

What is your favorite Hesston memory?

My favorite Hesston memory is staying up late hanging out with my friends. It was very rare that I went to bed before 2:00 am. I made some of my best friends while at Hesston.

Why EMU?

I chose EMU because it gave me the opportunity to experience a four year college with one of the best nursing programs. I am from Harrisonburg so that was another big reason why I went to EMU.

What was transferring like for you? 

Transfering was not easy but with the help of friends and engaging professors I found myself getting involved and finding my niche. Getting involved with clubs and intramurals gave me the chance to meet new people and start life long connections!

Any advice for a current Hesston College transfer starting the college search?

A piece of advice is to not let the word “transferring” scare you rather jump on all the opportunities that come your way!

Erin Brubaker

Class of 2019
From Goessel, Kansas
Majoring in Math, Secondary Education

What has your athletic experience been like?

Playing a sport helped me to integrate very quickly into the EMU community. I made many new relationships while continuing to play volleyball at a competitive level.

What is your favorite Hesston memory?

My favorite Hesston memory was staying up all night with a few friends on a whim just to see the sun rise. That kind of impromptu fun was what really made Hesston a special place for me.

What is your favorite EMU memory?

So far, my favorite EMU memories have been from volleyball. The team bond was amazing and every game was a chance to have fun and play for each other.

Why EMU?

I chose to transfer to EMU for several reasons, including the education department, the chance to continue playing volleyball, and the beautiful landscape. I have been challenged in my courses, but in a way that has made me grateful for the education I received at Hesston. The education department sets up its students to be successful by placing them in classrooms from the get-go, so we get real experience every semester. Additionally, there are so many fun activities to do in and around Harrisonburg, like hiking and hanging out downtown.

Any advice for a current Hesston College transfer starting the college search?

Ask questions and talk to professors on your visits. These will be the people you spend a lot of time with if you end up going to the school, so it helps to get a feel for who they are and if they might be a good fit for your learning style.

Jeremy Good

Class of 2018
From Champaign, IL
Majoring in Accounting

Favorite Hesston Memory:

We had a huge ice storm the weekend of Thanksgiving and although a lot of the events got canceled and the Howard Hustle had to be moved inside, there were a couple of us that went ice skating on the sidewalks between the library and the Admin. Building.

Favorite EMU Memory:

Playing and making an impromptu campus golf course last year. It was a beautiful day and there was just enough time after classes to play quickly.

Why EMU?

I choose EMU because I wanted to move to the east coast, away from the midwest to somewhere more scenic. The Accounting and Business department was really good and that there were a lot of great career options in the area as well as in DC and Richmond.

What was transferring like for you?

My first semester of EMU I had a really hard time because of personal issues and there was just a lot of support from my friends as well as understanding from my professors as I settled in. Also, Parkwoods is amazing and helps you get to know people in your class at EMU and offers a great transition into EMU culture.

Any advice for a current Hesston College transfer starting the college search?

I would definitely suggest that, when looking for a transfer school, look at a variety of schools so that you can really get a feeling of what school works best for you and what doesn’t. I looked at schools that I wasn’t really interested in just so I could find a place that was almost the polar opposite. That really helped me identify what I wanted.

Lorren Oesch

Class of 2018
From Caldwell, Idaho
Majoring in Peacebuilding and Development

What is your favorite Hesston memory?

One of my favorite memories from Hesston would have to be the night that a group of friends and I played glow in the dark bowling on the tennis courts. It was the weekend, and of course we were trying to figure out what to do with ourselves. A couple of very creative people decided to that putting glowsticks in water bottles was a neat idea. We ordered pizza after bowling a while which topped the night off!

What is your favorite EMU memory?

One of my favorite EMU memories is of when a group of about 15 of my friends came to my apartment to play games. It got up to 80 degrees in my house because of all the people so a bunch of us went out and ran around outside a while. There were lots of laughs that night!

Why EMU?

I really like the area for one thing, Harrisonburg is beautiful. I also really wanted to continue my education at a small school where I knew I would be challenged academically and socially, as well as in my faith. I was very drawn by the cross-cultural program here and have definitely been impacted by that experience.

What was transferring like for you?

Transferring was really hard for me, especially socially. I wanted to stay connected with my Hesston friends who I transferred with, but I also really needed to branch out. Navigating that experience was probably one of the hardest things I’ve done, but being able to figure it out has been so incredibly life-giving.

Any advice for a current Hesston College transfer starting the college search?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I was often worried that I would feel too much like a freshman again if I asked questions or voiced issues that I was having. It was so relieving, though, for me to talk to people about the struggles I was experiencing. This created spaces for more comfortable vulnerability which allowed deeper relationships to form. I’ve been so thankful for this.

Graduates of Hesston and EMU

Quinn Kathrineberg

EMU Class of 2017
Hesston College graduation class: class of 2015
From Salina, KS
Major/minor: English and Secondary Education major, Writing Studies minor

What extracurricular activities were you involved in?

I was glad I could continue being involved in music at EMU, even though it wasn’t my major. I played in a string quartet, took private lessons, and performed a violin and viola duet, accompanied by the orchestra.

What is your favorite Hesston memory?

I loved hymn sings in the raquet ball courts and riding bikes with friends around the arboretum.

What is your favorite EMU memory?

I attended the Women’s March on Washington with another friend from EMU. The positivity and encouragement of the nation radiated through the thousands and thousands of people. It was so neat to take part in history that day.

Why EMU?

EMU provided the “next steps” in my academic, personal, and faith development after Hesston. EMU’s students and faculty are active in the Harrisonburg community and globally in research, advocacy, and activism.

What was transferring like for you?

It took me about one full semester to really feel at home at EMU. At the beginning, it was difficult because I was thinking about all the things I missed from Hesston. However, at my EMU graduation, I found myself feeling similar to how I felt at my HC graduation — grateful for the many people around me who have become really important people in my life.

Any advice for a current Hesston College transfer starting the college search?

Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions to the schools you are considering. It’s your education and that I’d important. Also, transitions in life are inevitable, but you can learn a lot about yourself during the process.

Elisabeth Wilder

EMU class: 2017
Hesston College graduation class: 2015
From Hesston, KS
Major/minor: Social Work, Pre-law

What is your favorite Hesston memory?

I loved the spontaneity of doing things at Hesston. One of my favorite Hesston memories was building a huge blanket fort in the pit. It took about 14 of us to build it and then afterwards we spent the night playing card games and watching Netflix in the fort.

What is your favorite EMU memory?

Day trips to DC or afternoons spent hiking were some of my favorite memories of EMU.  Harrisonburg is a great city with a lot to offer, and there is so much to do outside the city as well.

Why EMU?

I chose EMU because of their strong academics, emphasis on social justice, and global perspective. I loved the school, the location, and the people made me feel at home. When I stepped on campus I just had a feeling it was the right place for me.

What was transferring like for you?

Transferring was a pretty painless process. I had my classes planned before I arrived on campus and the community was really welcoming when I arrived. Sometimes there was some awkwardness, but overall it was pretty easy.

Any advice for a current Hesston College transfer starting the college search?

Transferring can seem daunting, but as long as you come in with an open mind and a willingness to try new things, it is totally worth it.

Anything else?

Getting to be a part of two different experiences is really cool, and EMU made the transfer easy.