Elly Johnson was born and raised in Lindsborg, Kansas, and is a junior majoring in math education. She enjoys playing tennis, spending time with her friends and sisters, listening to music, and playing all kinds of sports. One of her favorite activities is cooking for others. Elly loves having a great time and meeting new people.

Anna Kirwan is excited to return to Friends University for her fourth and final year! She is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet and minoring in music, and loves creating through dance, music, art, writing, and filming. Jesus Christ is first in her life, she lives and breathes every day because of God's grace. Also very important to her is her best friend Blair, her family, her friends and her residents! Life is a gift! Amor omnia vincit.

Bethany Cooke is a senior from “far away, Pennsylvania.” While realizing more and more that Kansas truly is flat, she is chasing her dreams, following where God leads, and majoring in ballet. Besides dancing whenever possible, she loves reading, music, old movies, dreaming about traveling to Europe, baking, birds singing in the morning, sunrises, spring time, thunderstorms and getting to know people.

Vanessa Zimmerman is a returning junior to Friends University and even though she in not sure what direction she should take at the moment, she is pursuing a double major in religion and philosophy and English, and is also throwing in a minor in art with an emphasis in photography. She has a heart for people, wishes to glorify the Lord in all that she does, and hopes that she can always be an encouragement to others. She loves swing dancing, gardening, baking, reading, spending time with family and friends, water skiing, early morning runs, star gazing, and deep late night conversations.

Brett McLaughin graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where he earned a degree in history. He enjoys hanging out with people and doing just about anything, especially if it has to do with watching Carolina sports. Brett likes to sit around and talk, and invites students to “feel free to drop by my office.” A “die-hard” Carolina fan “’til the day I die,” Brett “can’t stand Duke, but prays for all those who ‘claim’ to be fans because they don’t understand what they are really getting themselves into.”

Billy Bloomquist is a senior music major with a focus on guitar and voice, so it is no surprise that he enjoys writing and recording his own music, as well as performing music. He likes meeting new people, being creative, trying new things and “deep thoughts and endless conversations about religion and philosophy.” Billy is a member of the Friends University Singing Quakers and the tennis team and states, “My sister always tells me, ‘Do your best, and God will do the rest.’ It sounds cheesy, but it's something I live by. That's my advice to incoming freshmen: just do the best you can at everything you get involved in, and good things will happen!”

Kevin Middlemist is a senior pre-medicine major from Holton, Kansas. He is a member of the Friends University golf team and enjoys playing sports, reading, listening to music and playing video games. Kevin advises incoming residents to “find something that drives you and never let it go.”

Lacey Landenberger graduated from Colorado Christian University with a degree in youth ministry with an emphasis in leadership and outdoor leadership, while also working for the Residence Life department as a resident assistant. Although she loves backpacking in the Rockies, Lacey is excited to be in Kansas where she grew up. She enjoys baking cookies, being outside, watching HGTV, and hanging out with students … whether at crazy events or sipping chai tea!

Kerry Shannon attended the College of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri, where he majored in physical education. He recently attended the Kanakuk Institute in Branson. Kerry enjoys hanging out with people and playing sports. He said he is excited to welcome the incoming freshmen to Friends University and walk with them through their first year of college.

Brett Baxter is a junior from Park City, Kan. and is looking forward to welcoming all the incoming students into Green Hall. Brett states, “I love activities. Activities are an integral part of my life.” At Friends University, Brett is involved in many ways. He plays golf, participates in many intramurals, is in the leadership program and is involved in many other activities.

Sarah Carter is a junior who comes to Friends from Derby, Kansas, and is pursuing a double major in Spanish and psychology/human services. She says she can't wait to see what God has in store for her. A firm believer in pursuing what one loves, Sarah loves "having deep conversations and taking mission trips." She also enjoys reading, water coloring, listening to music, cooking, taking picnics, and looking at the stars. With a passion for helping others, Sarah advises students "to remember that each day is a gift from God, and we should cherish every moment!"

Paige Logsdon grew up in the community of Douglass, Kan. and is majoring in sociology here at Friends University. So far in her time at the University she has been involved in intramurals, Women’s Chorus, Cornerstone Crew and theatre. Her hobbies include biking, swimming, basketball, baking and working out. She’s spending her 2011 summer months in Dallas, Texas as an intern with an organization called Project Transformation, running day camps for inner-city kids. She’s looking forward to being an RA for the first time in the great Green Hall.

Taylor Stevens is a junior from McPherson, Kan. majoring in child psychology and is wanting enter chiropractic school after graduation. He is involved in FACE, Psychology Club, and intramural sports. He lives to walk in the path and serve others as Jesus did. His hobbies include soccer, woodworking, fishing, Ping-Pong, long walks on the beach and a good pie. He enjoys time with God through serving others in volunteer work through many different organizations. His advice for upcoming freshmen is “get involved and enjoy the college experience because it doesn’t last long”. If you enjoy the job Taylor is doing as an RA, he does accept tips in the form of baked goods left outside the door to his room.

Nathan Thompson is from Sedgwick, Kan. and will be a sophomore majoring in health science. He hopes to become an oral surgeon. Nathan plays football and also participates in track at Friends University. His favorite activities include watching movies with friends, playing sports and eating ice cream. His advice to incoming students is to be open-minded and have fun!

Krystal Villasenor is a California girl entering her senior year at Friends University. She is majoring in zoo science and field biology. Apart from her passion for animals, she loves to swim, play water polo, listen to all types of music, chill at the beach, and spend time with her family and friends. In 10 years she sees herself in Antarctica researching penguin populations.

Sarah Stoffels is a senior from the small town of Lindsay, Texas, majoring in ballet with a minor in psychology and human servies. She enjoys spending time outdoors, thunderstorms, reading, watching movies, swing dancing and hanging out with friends. She is really excited to meet the new students of Green Hall, and advises freshmen to “study hard but also spend time building strong friendships with other students and with God.”

Donna Fourtner graduated from College of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri, where she was a resident assistant and earned a degree in public relations and a minor in philosophy and religion. Whenever Donna has a break, she “high-tails it home to the great state of Colorado!” Growing up, she enjoyed participating in 4-H where she decorated cakes and showed pigs. Donna enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, doing anything that has to do with a boat (wakeboarding, kneeboarding, skiing), riding her bike, throwing the football and, of course, watching her favorite team, the Denver Broncos. Donna will jump at the chance to sit down and have a good conversation with anyone, “especially if it includes coffee!”

Blake Barber is a junior political science major from Elbing, Kansas, who aspires to one day work for the International Justice Mission. At Friends, Blake is involved in Singing Quakers, Campus Ministries, and the History Club. He loves sports, concerts and coffee houses. Blake is excited to be a part of the Community and Residential Development team and to welcome the Smith residents. He advises students “to get connected. An involved college student is a happy college student."