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!

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.”

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.

Jakoe Barnes is a junior at Friends University from McPherson, Kan. majoring in zoo science and minoring in visual arts. She participates in choir and loves to volunteer at the zoo in the special education department. After graduating, she plans to work part time at a zoo while going back to school to study special education. During her free time she likes to read, keep in touch with new and old friends, swim, and work on her photography. “Start the year off with an open mind and meet as many people as you can, it makes the college experience so much more worth while and exciting!”

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.

Libby Derby is double-majoring in biology education and Christian spiritual formation with the hopes of being a middle or high school science teacher overseas in a missionary or international community. She is originally from Wichita, but has lived all around the United States and even South Korea. She loves to spend her time baking, blogging, listening to music, and being with people, whether watching movies, playing games, or just hanging out. She is so excited to see what God has in store for this year!

Mitchell Heller runs cross country and track at Friends University, and is involved in campus ministries. He enjoys hanging out with friends and serving people alongside his friends. He is an accounting major and encourages incoming students to find their place at Friends and get plugged in as soon as possible.

Kalika Jaeckel is an English education major with a second major in Christian spiritual formation. She is from central Iowa and enjoys reading, journaling and desires to share that joy with her future students. Eventually, she wants to serve in a school where she can teach students who yearn for encouragement and for someone to believe in them. She aspires to help others discover and achieve their dreams and is excited to be a part of the campus community.

Nate Johnson is a sophomore from Paonia, Colorado. He is majoring in music education and would like to eventually get his master's degree to teach at the college level. He is involved in band, Singing Quakers, jazz band and other music groups. He really likes to play ultimate frisbee and ping pong and will be up to playing either one almost anytime. His favorite sport is baseball and plays it any chance he gets. Nate looks forward to a year committed to Christ. He is excited to be an RA and cannot wait to welcome new and returning students back to Friends University.

Alex Kezar is double-majoring in Spanish and elementary education with the hopes of being an elementary teacher in one of the many Spanish-speaking countries throughout the world. Originally from Derby, he is a Kansas native, born and raised. He loves to spend his time hanging with friends, watching movies, reading and serving in the community. He is extremely excited to be the new resident assistant for the Smith Apartments and help his residents to have a great spring semester!

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.

Skyler Miner is from Chanute, Kansas, and is majoring in health science. He hopes to become a physical therapist. He is a member of the Friends University golf team and enjoys playing sports, participating in campus activities and intramurals, and drawing. His advice for students is to stay involved, do the best you can, and everything will fall into place!

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.

Megan Taylor is currently a music education major. She would love to take her degree to Chicago to teach somewhere in the city where a school needs her, but mostly needs the beauty found in music. God has led her to places she couldn't have anticipated. "If He wants me somewhere else, I will go there," she says. But eagerly she anticipatesa classroom full of students and all the ways they will grow together. She loves things that old people love: crocheting, tapioca, drinking tea and reading outside. She also loves old people. Well, she loves all people. She also loves to sing jazz and anticipates loving her job as an RA in Green Hall. She is sure that many adventures await her and is really grateful for this opportunity.

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!

Peyton Wade is a religion and philosophy major with an emphasis in Christian spiritual formation. He hopes to one day work to help people grow and be fulfilled. He is involved in the track and cross country program as well as a member of the choir. He also enjoys working with campus ministries and helping out with Cornerstone. In his free time he likes to hang out with people, read, play music and make up silly games. He is excited for a new year and the opportunity to be with students as an RA.

Lauren Diec is a sophomore double-majoring in Math Education and Christian Spiritual Formation. She wants to teach math at a public high school, and hopefully be a light to students in a place that can get quite dark. She is very active at Friends and just plain active as well. She plays tennis for Friends and is a cheerleader, but also loves to play soccer and just about any sport. She is a pretty busy bee, but will always make time to talk if anyone ever needs or wants to! God has blessed her with so many opportunites and is ready for this to be a year full of fun, challenges and lots of growth!

Luke Gilstrap is double-majoring in psychology and Christian spiritual formation. Upon graduating, he would like to move to the inner-city, preferably Chicago, and become involved with the fight against human trafficking. In his spare time he likes to play jazz with fellow friends and musicians, breathe the outdoor air, strum his mandolin, play folk-hymns, listen to others' stories over a cup of coffee, and giggle with his niece. He hopes to live his life revealing more of Christ and less of himself.