Residence Life and Student Leadership
Living in a building with 200 college students, there is a lot that goes on that I oversee as a resident director. However, a large part of the work that happens on the halls every day is a result of the servant leadership of three main roles that we have set up for every residence hall. Below you can get a glimpse into some of the activities these leaders are working hard at for the sake of building a hall full of meaningful, Christ-like relationships.
Students stopped by my apartment all night a couple of weeks ago with flash drives in hand, breathing sighs of relief or grinning proudly as they handed in the result of weeks of work with their hall. Mac Movie Night happened last week, a building-wide event where every hall submits a 10-12 minute short film featuring their hall. Everything from the plot to filming and editing is directed by students on the hall. Through all the technical difficulties, conflict over story ideas, and dozens of hall emails to coordinate everyone during filming, the Mac Council representative takes the responsibility to make sure the hall works together well to accomplish the final product. And it all ends up being worth it! When the hall sees their movie played up on the big screen in the chapel, everyone cheers with excitement and pride over what they have been able to work together to create. And
Sutherland captured the coveted first-place prize this year!
While some students wish they could drop everything to work on fun projects like Mac Movie all the time, the reality is that school work is an ever-present reality while they are here. Resident advisors (RAs) have a wide range of responsibilities, but I was especially proud when one of my RAs recently told me about multiple conversations he had with a freshman on his hall who was obviously struggling with his school work but not sure what to do about it. After listening and sharing some of the lessons he had learned about succeeding in college, he helped the student stay accountable to the things he wanted to improve on, as well as recommending he meet with me for more help. I’m thankful for my student leaders who pursue relationships not only through weeks one and two, but continue to pursue relationships in areas deeper than video games, and offer help throughout the semester
even when everyone is busy and stressed.
Attending and being involved in a local church is something we encourage and promote, but in reality it is hard for students to find time to get connected to a church outside the Sunday morning service. Now that new students have had a chance to explore their local church options and hopefully find a church body to which they want to commit, our discipleship coordinators (DCs) will be starting a new project to help facilitate their hallmates' desires to get involved in their new church. Coming as a college student to a new church in a new city is an intimidating position if you’ve never had to navigate building relationships with adults outside of the context of your youth group or family before. We want to equip our students to know how to take the initiative of branching out of their comfort zones and connecting with a variety of people in their churches. The DCs will be
planning programs for our building as well as having intentional conversations to encourage us all to seek out relationships outside of the hall and Covenant community.
While these are our three main areas of leadership, a lot of credit has to be given to the unofficial leaders on every hall. Students who don’t have an official role still take initiative to have intentional relationships and take on responsibilities for events. All together, the students on halls work together to make their smaller community a Christ-centered place where they are living and studying and growing together throughout their time at Covenant. I’m thankful to get to work with and lead these students in their roles here in Maclellan/Rymer, and I’m especially thankful to God for His work in students’ lives to bring about change and growth in the context of residence life here at Covenant.
Meredith Hall
Resident Director of Maclellan/Rymer Hall
Covenant Parent Testimony
Growing up in the RPCES and then the PCA and hearing about Covenant, I was intrigued by the fact that a college would be filled with all Christians. Then after my own commitment to Christ and going to Covenant, I found this was the most influential time of my life. My professors all loved the Lord and continually pointed us to Him. If classes were missed or grades started to drop, there was genuine concern as to what was going on in the student’s life.
Now, being a parent of a junior at Covenant is another new perspective. I want him to be able to grow and be the person Christ wants him to be. I want him in an environment that encourages and supports him. It is so hard to let go and allow our children to make their own decisions, right or wrong, and not jump in to fix everything. Yet, being at Covenant, I feel my son is in a very safe environment to grow, make mistakes and learn to thrive on his own. Covenant is not a sin-free environment - there isn’t one on earth - but it closely matches the values and beliefs I hope my children will embrace for themselves.
The classes are thought-provoking, and it is good to have some healthy discussions and disagreements among students and professors. Covenant encourages students to search the Scriptures for themselves and come to terms with what they truly believe.
Holly (Haldeman) Hoffman '84
Exam Cram Bags
Dear Parents,
It is that time of year again! It is time to order an Exam Cram Bag for your Covenant student. The Exam Cram Bag is a tradition here at Covenant, as parents use the Exam Cram Bag to encourage their children as they study for their fall semester exams in December.
The Exam Cram Bag is a grocery bag filled with granola bars, crackers, candy, fruit juice, hot chocolate mix, chewing gum, microwave popcorn, peanuts, cookies, trail mix, pretzels, and other goodies. The bag also has a note of encouragement from you that you may include when you submit your check. What a blessing it is to our Covenant students!
For $15, the Exam Cram Bag is not only a blessing – but a bargain. Over the past several years, it has become a tradition for the athletes to help purchase all the grocery items and then work with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to “stuff” all the bags the night before distribution. For their help, the SAAC will be able to use the small proceeds to assist with future community service projects.
So, are you ready to order? Ordering is very easy. Write your note of encouragement and send it back with your check for $15.00. The check needs to be made out to “Covenant College” and returned with the note by Friday, December 2.
Please send all your information to:
Covenant College
Exam Cram Bag
c/o Athletic Department
14049 Scenic Highway
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
If you have any questions, you may call Athletic Director Tami Smialek at 706.419.1169. Thanks for your support!
Praise and Prayer Requests
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Praise for the abundant blessings and mercies of the Lord that He is faithful to provide every day
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Prayer for all in the Covenant community to speak in such a way that edifies those listening, guarding their language and speaking words that glorify our Father
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Prayer for professors and students as they meet to discuss preregistration for the spring semester
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Prayer for performances in the music, drama, and athletics departments - that students will have energy and that the community will be moved in good ways
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Prayer for high school seniors who are making decisions about college - that Covenant would attract the students God intends for us
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