ENGAGE
FURMAN
volume 7 | issue 3
Published
Courtney DeVoe ’12
cowrites book on
sustainable building
p.17
Meet the
Freshman
Bloggers p. 22
from the editor
ENGAGE FURMAN
Volume 7, Issue 3
Published by Furman University
to provide prospective students with
information about and insight into
the engaged learning experience.
President
Rod Smolla
Associate Vice President for Admission
Brad Pochard
Associate Director of Admission
Jeny Bishop Kerscher
Senior Assistant Directors of Admission
Tia Sullivan
Lindsey Walker
Libby Weith
Assistant Director of Admission
Bartley Sides
Admission Counselors
Allyson Brown – Transfer Coordinator
Michael Dostie
Martha Kimmel – International
Melissa Cline
Joinné Ruff
Laura Simmons – Regional Representative, Georgia
Jake Sintich
Furman University Admission
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, South Carolina 29613–5245
[email protected]
864.294.2034 Fax: 864.294.2018
Furman University is committed to
providing equal access to its educational
programs, activities, and facilities to all
otherwise qualified students without
discrimination on the basis of race, national
origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability,
veteran status, sexual orientation, gender
identity, or any other category protected by
applicable state or federal law. For information
about Furman’s compliance with Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the
Americans with Disabilities Act
Amendments Act, contact the Disability
Services Coordinator, 864.294.2320,
3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville, SC 29613.
table of contents
14
As admission applications continue to arrive in my office, I am
enjoying reading about students from all across the country.
The essay portions of the application and Common Application
12
Supplement are my favorite to read, as these are the places
where students have the most freedom to tell me details about
themselves that give me a better understanding of who they
are—everything from charity efforts they have spearheaded
to championship soccer games they have won to passions for
writing, music, or science.
I’m also thrilled by the great feedback I’m hearing from our
Furman Admission Network (FAN) volunteers who are busy all
across the country meeting our applicants in FAN interviews.
These Furman alumni and parents are interested in getting to
know students as individuals, and they also really enjoy sharing
their own Furman experiences.
8
If you have already submitted your application for
admission and requested a FAN interview—congratulations!
If not, I encourage you to apply and request an interview. I look
forward to reading and hearing about you and your story.
Sincerely,
Brad Pochard
Associate Vice President for Admission
features
8
visit campus
Spend the day with us, and then explore Greenville. Head downtown,
cruise the shops and galleries, or enjoy some live music by the river.
Spend the night in one of our scenic downtown hotels, and grab a cup
12
14
16
And the Adventure Begins
Freshmen dive into college life.
Renaissance Minds
20
Students discover Italian culture
through art, literature, and science.
Taking the Plunge
A shared passion for marine mammals
lands two alums at SeaWorld San Antonio.
22
of coffee for a morning stroll down Main Street. Find out why we love
Building a Greener Greenville
on the
cover
Furman students and alums work
for a more sustainable Greenville.
The Road to Andalusia
A trip to Flannery O'Connor's farm
reveals how facts became fiction.
Meet the Bloggers
Students give us a front-row seat
for freshman year.
Furman and Greenville, and see firsthand why Furman is the place for you.
Schedule your campus visit at www.engagefurman.com/visit
or by calling 864.294.2034.
departments
2
3
Ask the Ambassadors
News and Notes
23 Admission Advice
24 Furman Facts
ENGAGE FURMAN 1
ask the ambassadors
news and notes
Have a burning question
about Furman?
WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Visit www.engagefurman.com or
Furman student Emily Schreiber ’15 (Birmingham, Ala.) was
write to [email protected].
one of five finalists for Glamour Magazine's “Women of the
One of our ambassadors will send you
Year: Readers’ Choice Award.” Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis
a personal response, and we might print
at the age of nine, Emily fought back by founding Laps for
it in the next issue of Engage Furman!
CF and held the organization’s first swim fundraiser only six
weeks after her diagnosis. Laps for CF has now raised over
$2 million to support CF awareness, research, and patient
care—far surpassing her original goal of $3,000!
Admission Ambassadors (left to right)
Keda DuBard ’14, Columbia, S.C.
Madeleine Wright ’13, San Francisco, Calif.
Sophie Mire ’12, Knoxville, Tenn.
Blake Wood ’13, Charleston, S.C.
What is FAN, and why is a FAN
interview so important?
Why should I join the
Engage Community?
What do students do for fun
off campus?
Sophie: The Furman Admission Network
(FAN) is made up of Furman alumni
and parent volunteers who interview
prospective students—often in the
student's hometown. The interview gives
students the opportunity to connect with
Furman on a personal level and distinguish
themselves from other applicants.
Blake: The Engage Community is
Madeleine: Furman’s application is
“test optional,” which means that we
look at you as an individual, not just
your test scores. In your interview, you
can help us get to know you by telling
us about your interests and what you’re
passionate about.
with the application process.
Madeleine: The city totally took me
by surprise. We’re near the mountains,
so a lot of students go hiking on the
weekends. I love Caesar’s Head and
Paris Mountain because they have easy
hikes but amazing views. Greenville also
has its own minor league baseball team
that plays downtown at Fluor Field, and
we often get discounted seats in the
Furman section.
Keda: When you participate in a FAN
interview, you can show off a side of
yourself that can’t be conveyed through
an application. You can discuss your love
for kayaking or even how reading the
Twilight series changed your perspective.
Furman’s social network, a place where
you can communicate with students,
professors, and student groups,
and learn pretty much anything about
Furman. It’s a great way to connect with
the Office of Admission, identify your
admission counselor, and get familiar
Sophie: You can find information about
academics, financial aid, events, Greek
life, intramural sports, and a lot more in
the Community. Create your profile,
write blogs, post photos, upload videos,
and network with other Furman students,
faculty, and Admission representatives—
it's all right there.
Keda: When you join the Engage
Community you can plug into the Furman
campus before you even set foot on it.
Expanded video content is online wherever you
see this video icon. Visit the Engage Community
at engagefurman.com/video to view.
Keda: My friends and I drive into the
mountains for contra dancing. We also
like going to Coffee Underground in
downtown Greenville for poetry slams.
Blake: I love going to concerts—a couple
I've been to recently are MuteMath
at the Handlebar in Greenville and
Needtobreathe at the Orange Peel in
Asheville. Several local restaurants are
definitely considered “Furman hangouts,”
and I personally like catching up with
friends at Karrie’s Deli & Pub in University
Square and Hunting Camp BBQ in
Travelers Rest.
20-10
WIN!
The Paladins powered past third-ranked Appalachian State with a 20-10 upset victory November 5.
2 ENGAGE FURMAN
watch video at engagefurman.com/video
ENGAGE FURMAN 3
news and notes
Zhōngqiū Jié
UP LATE WITH LENO
Furman alums Bear Rinehart ’03 and Joe Stillwell ’03, along
Furman Celebrates
Chinese Moon Festival
with their band NeedtoBreathe, made their television debut on
NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno September 14. The band
is currently on tour throughout the U.S. promoting their latest
album The Reckoning. www.needtobreathe.net/.
On September 10 Furman and the Greenville Chinese
Culture Association jointly sponsored a Chinese Moon
Festival. The free community event drew more than 300
Expanded video content is online wherever you see
this video icon. Visit the Engage Community at
engagefurman.com/video to view.
attendees who enjoyed Chinese cultural performances
and booths with games, arts, and crafts. Patrons feasted
[ W A L K T H I S W AY ]
Erika Shaver ’14 walks with purpose.
Student Captures
Elusive Subjects
at the Institut Pasteur
Her gait might look strangely robotic
on Chinese boxed meals and traditional Chinese Moon
Cakes. Steeped in tradition and lively legends, the Moon
Festival celebrates friends and family and is one of the most
important holidays in Chinese culture.
to people unfamiliar with race walking,
but that doesn’t bother this Furman
athlete from Dayton, Ohio. Her sights
are set on the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Annelise Gorensek ’12 (Aiken, S.C.) attracted
GOP PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL NEWT GINGRICH VISITS CAMPUS
the attention of a leading field expert in Paris
Last February, Shaver set a personal
this past summer when she was able to precisely
record with a first-place time of 52:36
In a setting that resembled a Saturday
photograph bacteria in action while working
in the 10-kilometer race at the U.S.
morning version of a political science
at the world-renowned Institut Pasteur. She
team trials, which qualified her for the
class, former Speaker of the House
traveled to Lille and Grenoble, France, along
national squad that competed the next
Newt Gingrich delivered a lecture
with fellow Furman students Will Towler ’11
month at the Pan American Race Walk
to an assembly of Furman students
(King George, Va.) and Nadia Shamsedin ’13
Cup in Medellín, Colombia. In June she
on November 14. Speaking on the
(Columbia, S.C.), as part of a new program that
was one of the top two finishers at the
economy, the one-time college
brought together students from five universities
Junior Nationals in Eugene, Ore. Now
professor illustrated on a green slate
to conduct biomedical research. Their travel was
she’s stepping up to the 20-k raced
chalkboard the two-sided division he
funded by Furman’s Undergraduate Science
by adults; in her first try, in May, she
sees in the current economic debate.
Education award from the Howard Hughes
finished in one hour, 55 minutes.
At the lecture’s end, as Gingrich and
Medical Institute.
She’ll have to get down to 1:48 to reach the Olympic Trials and 1:38
his staff filed on to the mall, students
for the 2012 Games themselves, so she knows that London “might be
either sprung for a place in the
a little too much of a stretch.” But she and her coach and world-class
crowd of supporters requesting
race walker, Ian Whatley, are serious about Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
pictures and autographs or looked on
politely at what could prove a historic
Shaver, who also runs for the cross country team, says, “The coaches
moment—a potential future U.S.
here have been fabulous, and they’ve supported me. It’s been great to
president visiting the Furman campus.
be a part of a team.”
4 ENGAGE FURMAN
watch video at engagefurman.com/video
ENGAGE FURMAN 5
news and notes
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Falling for D.C.
At Furman, service isn't a hobby, it's a passion. These five seniors
have shown spirited leadership in serving others and exemplify
Furman's commitment to making the world a better place. As a
result, they were named Furman Fellows and received a $7,500
award to enable them to continue changing lives.
Hannah Tedder ’12 (Advance, N.C.) interned for North Carolina Congresswoman Virginia Foxx
Lindsay Harroff (Political Science and Communication Studies;
Concord, N.C.) has worked with Habitat for Humanity, Nourish
International, and Reading is Fundamental, and has raised funds
for pediatric cancer research and juvenile diabetes. She also
entertains residents in local adult care facilities by performing
on the Celtic harp. She has interned in the Scottish Parliament
in Edinburgh, and spent last summer as a National Science
Foundation research assistant.
“As a Capitol Hill intern, one of my duties was to give tours of the United States Capitol
Brandon Tensley (Political Science and German; Columbia,
S.C.) founded Men of Distinction, a program that enlists
male Furman students as role models for local middle school
boys. Brandon also works with the L.E.G.A.C.I.E.S. program,
mentoring multicultural freshmen, and is president of Furman’s
Model United Nations program.
TWEET US!
@FUAdmission
@Furmannews
@FurmanPaladins
the furman community
Make connections, post
video and photos, have
real-time conversations,
write a blog, or join a group
of individuals with similar
interests on Furman's online
community. Get started at
engagefurman.com.
6 ENGAGE FURMAN
FRIEND US!
Add us on Facebook.
FU
GET THE FU APP!
for iPhone, iPod Touch and
iPad now available FREE on
iTunes or at the App Store.
friends at Furman about her experiences. One of those communications bears repeating:
Susan Bitetti (Physics; Norwell, Mass.) founded Furman’s first
student science publication, The Spectrum. Captain of the
women’s tennis team, she started a pen pal program with
a local middle school, connecting Furman athletes with
disabled or troubled students.
Michael Sauer (Business Administration; Malvern, Pa.) is a local
leader for Young Life, through which he mentors high school
students. Michael also plays in a band that has hosted benefit
concerts for a children’s orphanage in Africa and for Japanese
earthquake relief.
Furman Fellows (from left to right) Lindsay Harroff, Susan Bitetti,
Michael Sauer, Brandon Tensley, and Cortney McEniry
last year through Furman's Political Science Department. She reported regularly back to
to visitors from my representative’s district. One day, as my group exited the Rotunda, I pointed
out the House Speaker’s office. As all good tour guides know, when walking backwards, it is
best to look back every so often to watch your step. I’d like to think it was the slick marble
floors instead of my clumsiness in high heeled shoes, but whatever the case, I caught the back
of my heel, and before I knew it, I was falling backwards, feet soaring in the air.
“Suddenly, I felt arms swoop in under me and a hand protect my head from hitting the ground. My rescuer quickly put me back
on my feet. Humiliated, I did not turn around instantly but sheepishly looked up at my tour group. Every single person’s mouth was
wide open, and their eyes were as big as golf balls. As I began to apologize, I was interrupted by a very familiar voice behind me
asking, ‘Miss, are you alright?’ Whirling around to see Speaker John Boehner and his security detail, I realized the security guard in
front was the one who caught me, and the Speaker himself was the one who caught my head.
“I thanked the Speaker, moved my group out of the way so he could enter his office, and heard other tour groups’ applause and
shouting, ‘The Speaker just saved that intern’s LIFE!’ My tour group agreed that nothing would trump that experience. We ended
the tour where we were.”
Cortney McEniry (Theatre Arts, Concentration in Poverty
Studies; Anderson, S.C.) hopes to apply her theatre studies
to enrich poverty-stricken communities. While interning with
Synchronicity Theatre Company in Atlanta and its program
Playmaking for Girls, she worked with young women from
abusive and impoverished situations.
UC Set for a Makeover
Furman's University Center (UC), the hub of student
activities on campus, is in line for a major makeover
thanks to a $5 million commitment from a Furman
IN THE
LEAD!
alumnus who has requested anonymity. Most of
the gift will go toward renovation of the UC. The
new space will feature larger areas for student clubs
and organizations, an expanded food court, and a
The Furman women's team won the 39th Gene Mullin Furman Cross Country Invitational October 8; the Paladin
nighttime student entertainment club.
men's team finished second behind VMI.
watch video at engagefurman.com/video
ENGAGE FURMAN 7
AND THE
BEGINS
THE CLASS OF 2015 MEETS THE
NEXT FOUR YEARS HEAD ON.
By Tina T. Underwood
You’ve heard the cliché—“The next four
years will be the best time of your life.”
As you embark on your college career,
it’s likely that at no other time in your
life will so much be compressed into four
years’ time.
On the surface, the on ramp from
high school to college may seem like an
easy proposition. Seriously, just how hard
is it to live on your own, meet new people,
and enjoy your newfound autonomy?
The prospect of leaving home for
an entirely different academic, living,
and social arrangement is exciting, but for
many students it can also be a source of
anxiety. We’ve been there, and we know
how to make the transition to college
life as smooth as possible (and fun!) while
minimizing potholes and other road hazards.
Breaking it down
Furman offers a hybrid approach to
acclimating students to academics and
college life—Summer Orientation (the
nuts and bolts of class selection) and Fall
Orientation (navigating life at FU). Prior to
Fall Orientation, some students choose to
go on pre-Orientation trips to connect with
friends having similar outdoor interests.
Academically speaking . . .
Beginning with the Class of 2016, students
will attend one of five two-day sessions
in June dedicated primarily to ironing out
class selection and other academic prep
details. These sessions, a.k.a. “Summer
Orientation,” allow students to get an early
handle on the classes they’ll take during
the first semester. Students work in small
groups and one-on-one with academic
advisors to hammer out class choices. How
liberating is that? Not only can you rest at
8 ENGAGE FURMAN
ease for the better part of summer just for
having checked the “sign up for classes”
box on your to-do list, but you’ll have a
greater chance of getting your first pick so
that few, if any, schedule adjustments have
to be made come August.
P.O.P.—Put yourself out there
Navigating a raft through the churning
waters of the Chattooga River with seven
people you’ve just met is one way to
break the ice. Held the week before Fall
Orientation and organized by Student Life,
“P.O.P.” (the Pre-Orientation Program) gets
125 freshmen acquainted, involved, and
outside with trips ranging from the Blue
Ridge Mountains to the Carolina coast, and
features activities like sea kayaking, rafting,
zip line, and mountain biking.
“My best friends at Furman are people
I met on the Nantahala rafting and zip line
trip. As a group, we returned to campus
with 20 good friends we didn’t even know
just two days before,” says Alicia Leary ‘15
(Winter Park, Fla.).
continued p.10
ENGAGE FURMAN 9
“Orientation gives students a starting point—
how to interact with others, how to traverse
academics, and in many cases, how to deal
with living with someone for the first time.”
O-Week highlights include the carnival, a picnic at President Smolla’s
home, and a surprise late-night rave.
All five trips begin the same day with dinner, a huge pool
party at President Smolla’s home, and an overnight stay on the
Furman campus. Whether you’re in the P.O.P. trip to Charleston,
S.C., or Bryson City, N.C., you’ll get to meet your fellow
adventurers during your first day at Furman.
Students interested in community service can dive right in
with the P.O.P. local service trip to Triune Mercy Center, Greenville’s
mission church for the homeless. Whether distributing clothing or
groceries, working in the art room, planting a garden, or assisting
adults with their job search, this trip is all about getting to know
each other through service to others. Students wind down after
a busy weekend with dinner downtown and a Greenville Drive
baseball game at Fluor Field in the historic West End.
10 ENGAGE FURMAN
Fall Orientation: Countdown to classes
While Summer Orientation is about the destination (the classes
themselves), Fall Orientation is about succeeding in those classes
and negotiating college life—the roadmap for success, in other
words. “Ultimately,” says director of Student Life J. Scott Derrick,
“our two-pronged approach will prove to be an even better
experience for the students.”
Students get the keys to success for the entire Furman
experience during “O-Week,” so Fall Orientation is mandatory.
Four days of “Furman Life 101” set the tone for four years of your
college life. With the academic decks cleared following Summer
Orientation, “Fall Orientation gives students a starting point—
how to interact with others, how to traverse academics, and in
many cases, how to deal with living with someone for the first
time,” says Derrick.
On top of move-in assistance and computer configurations,
O-Week includes programs about how to tackle your first year at
Furman, diversity, selecting a major, getting involved, eating well,
and, of course, a crash course in managing the shift from high
school to college. “It was difficult saying goodbye to my family
at first, but all the activities made the transition easier. Every day
our hall had places to be and things to do that we could look
forward to,” says Charlotte Leadem ‘15 (Chapel Hill, N.C.).
To make O-Week memorable and fun, the Orientation
staff and other organizations pepper the “how-to” sessions
with heaps of hall activities, games, Furman sports, and
nighttime events. And there’s nothing like a long laundry list
of happenings to squelch the leaving-home blues. “O-Week
activities got me out of my dorm and out there meeting people
when I might not have otherwise. It also made me realize just
how dedicated the administrators are at Furman to make the
college experience enjoyable and welcoming. I can’t tell you
how many times I heard ‘Welcome to Furman!’ or ‘We’re so
glad you’re here!’” says Coady Shovlain ‘15 (Tallahassee, Fla.).
For Leary, even the early move-in day, scheduled before
the crush of returning upperclassmen, helped her get the lay
of the land and focus on meeting people. She says, “It was
good to know that all of us are in the same boat and there’s
nothing to be afraid of . . . O-Week also gave me a chance to
bond with my hall by doing crazy things like dressing up for my
hall theme (Super Mario was hers) and exploring downtown
Greenville together.
Stevie Laughead ‘15 (Lugoff, S.C.), who had broken her
foot two nights before freshman move-in, says, “The O-Week
staff made move-in wonderful . . . I barely lifted a finger
the entire day!” Despite the broken foot, Laughead got to
participate in Field Fest—an event filled with goofy, “awkward”
games like passing an orange wedged between chin and
collarbone from one student to another. “I got to know my
first-year advisor (FRAD) and resident assistant very well along
with my brother and sister halls, which is good because I’m
so busy now, I can’t imagine trying to get us all together to
connect like we did during O-Week,” she says.
Other highlights include the O-Week carnival, picnic at
President Smolla’s home, and an outdoor blockbuster movie
on the big screen, among other surprises. So future Furman
grads, enjoy the college ride—it may be bumpy at times, but
it promises to be the time of your life, especially with friends
riding along.
DID YOU KNOW . . .
Fraternity and sorority rush are deferred until second
semester. There are no individual houses for fraternities
and sororities, which allows the organizations to be
more inclusive and involved in campus and residential
life. Each fraternity or sorority member has the option
of living on a hall in Lakeside Housing designated for his
or her Greek association. Based on occupancy, students
who are not in Greek organizations may choose to live
on these halls as well.
WATCH VIDEO COVERAGE OF THE O-WEEK
EXPERIENCE AT ENGAGEFURMAN.COM/VIDEO.
ENGAGE FURMAN 11
By Ron Wagner
Illustrations by Meredith Hamilton
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VWXGHQWVH[SHULHQFH,WDO\WKURXJKDUWOLWHUDWXUHFXOWXUHDQGVFLHQFH
A
s a biology professor, Eli Hestermann is quite familiar with
Indeed, students from pretty much every academic corner of
the definition of a symbiotic relationship. So when Furman
the Furman campus converged to spend 12 weeks together taking
religion professor Bryan Bibb asked if Hestermann could
Hestermann’s and Leavell’s classes, as well as Representation of the
make himself a useful part of the spring multidisciplinary Study Away
in Italy, Hestermann knew that he wasn’t simply being offered a ride
with the humanities department.
There was a reason, or so it seemed, history students went
Bible in Art and Travel Narratives courses taught by Bibb.
Students visited many of the famous historical and religious
sites in Northern and Central Italy, but were also able to stay in rural
agriturismo hotels where they experienced country Italian life and
on trips with history professors. What kind of class could challenge
food. The heart of the trip was a three-week stay in Florence. Students
chemistry majors while not overwhelming someone who spends
had time to explore every inch of the city, and also to make excursions
most of his or her time in another department? Hestermann admits
to places such as Cortona, Cinque Terre, and Verona.
he was stumped until he found inspiration in wine.
That’s right—he decided to focus his Regional Agricultural
“It was neat to get a different twist on things. My first two
years at Furman were so science-heavy. I had little exposure to art
Sciences course on Italy’s famous wine industry. Throw in some time
before this trip, and I got to see so many famous paintings and
spent on olive oil as well, and he had a class that could intrigue 22
sculptures that made a huge impact on me,” said senior chemistry
students from 16 different disciplines. “Fortunately, no matter how
major Jackie Razzaghy (Taylors, S.C.).
much biology you’ve had, you’ve never had a class that focused on
Religion major Susannah Morris ’12 (Atlanta, Ga.) offered a
how do grapes grow, how do olives grow,” he said. “Even if you
similar take. She said she had long dreamed of seeing great works
know some of the concepts it’s new information.”
of religious art, but she also waited about as long as she could to
Hestermann’s course was particularly exciting for the students,
as it focused on the agricultural, scientific, and cultural aspects of
wine and olive production and included in-depth tours of over a
take a required science class. Being accepted for the trip gave her
a chance to do both.
“I grew up reading about the depictions of stories of the
dozen vineyards and wineries, often led by the owners themselves.
Bible in art, especially Renaissance and Baroque art, and I wanted
Students became experts in the scientific aspects of cultivation,
to see these amazing paintings I had learned about in person and
fermentation, bottling, and preservation.
experience their power that way,” Morris said. “The science class
History professor Jim Leavell, who taught a more traditional
Renaissance History of Italy course, said Hestermann’s idea was the
highlight of his four trips to Italy as a Furman instructor.
“It was fascinating, really fascinating. The students learned a
was definitely a challenge for me, but being in a class with so
many science majors made the experience an interesting one.”
Megan Novak ’12 (Naperville, Ill.), another senior chemistry
major, said being around students outside of her department
great deal, as I did, about fermentation and the biochemistry related
was educational as well. “Everyone brought their specialty to the
to that endeavor,” he said. “It got us out into the countryside in Italy
classes,” she said. “One of the girls was a religion major so she
in a way that we would not have done had we purely been looking
had a very different insight on approaching art and the Bible than
at the monuments and at the art.”
I did. Hearing that helped, because we would all talk about it as
a group when we were at a museum or a site, and I like to think
LEARN MORE ABOUT STUDY AWAY
AT ENGAGEFURMAN.COM.
that I helped with some of the science.”
Science, history, art, society, and culture—all in one trip.
That’s about as complete a liberal arts experience as 22 students
could hope to share.
12 ENGAGE FURMAN
ENGAGE FURMAN 13
by Tina T. Underwood
Taking the Plunge
What are the odds that two psychology majors would run into each other soon
after graduation—in San Antonio, working with marine mammals? That’s exactly
what happened to Liz Kreiser and Kate Lawrence.
“I’ve been working toward this job for as long as I can
remember,” says Liz Kreiser ’10 (Alpharetta, Ga.), zoo attendant in
the animal care department at SeaWorld San Antonio. It all started
with family excursions to SeaWorld, and the experience in those
formative years obviously made a lasting impression. With career
seeds planted early, Kreiser says she is living out her childhood
dream of working with dolphins. “I never gave up on this goal
and was determined to see it through,” she says.
In high school, Kreiser learned that psychology is a common
major for professionals who work with marine mammals—the
discipline is all about understanding behavior (human or animal)
and how to modify it, Kreiser says. She set her sights on Furman
because of its strong psychology department and faculty commitment to
providing unique undergraduate research and internship opportunities.
While at Furman, she studied dolphin conservation in Greece and was
introduced to dolphin-assisted therapy. During her senior year she
gained even more experience in real-world animal training through
her work with Dogs for Autism, where she housed and trained dogs
on campus for public service and therapy.
With her liberal arts education, Kreiser says she was able to try
her hand at research, therapy, and training while taking a variety of
classes. “I was able to pinpoint where my passions and interests lie,”
she says.
Testing the waters
Following graduation, Kreiser continued to mine career possibilities
through three internships. The first took her to Island Dolphin Care
in Key Largo, Fla., where dolphins are used to help children with a
variety of disabilities—an area to which Kreiser was initially drawn.
But her stint with Dolphins Plus, also in Key Largo, steered her
closer to the vocation that best suited her talents. “I was exposed
to dolphin husbandry there, and was attracted to the medical
aspects of working with these animals,” she says. Following yet
14 ENGAGE FURMAN
another internship with Miami Seaquarium, Kreiser was invited by
SeaWorld, San Antonio, for an interview and swim test—which
resulted in her current role at the park.
At SeaWorld, Kreiser is part of a team responsible for the care
of Pacific and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, Pacific
harbor seals, Asian otters, and monk seals. “What I love about my
job is the chance to get involved with other departments’ marine
mammals like the Beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and
killer whales—with so many animals under our care, the day is
unpredictable. It keeps things exciting!” says Kreiser.
Future in focus
While many seventh graders were honing their dodge ball skills,
Kate Lawrence ’11 (Lancaster, Pa.) was boning up on operant and
classical conditioning—principles of psychology she examined in
her middle school science fair project. Her interest in psychology
and an early penchant for all things marine solidified her career
goals. Lawrence’s first visit to SeaWorld at the age of four ignited a
fascination with marine mammals, and throughout her childhood,
boating expeditions along the eastern shore of Maryland fueled her
interest in marine ecosystems.
Throughout high school and her years at Furman Lawrence
volunteered and interned at such animal care facilities as the
Indianapolis Zoo, the Greenville Zoo, and the Philadelphia Zoo.
Her sophomore Study Away experience with the Furman Biology
Department helped confirm she was on the right track. “Snorkeling
and scuba diving the coral reefs in Belize was an incredible
experience . . . it showed me how vital marine ecosystems are to our
environment,” says Lawrence.
She is grateful for the support of her Furman professors,
especially John Batson and Erin Hahn in the Psychology Department
and Biology professor Dennis Haney. “If not for their assistance with
course selection and internships, I wouldn’t be where I am today,”
says Lawrence.
Love what you do
With so much experience under her belt, it’s easy to see how
Lawrence snagged a job as instructor in the Education and
Conservation Department at SeaWorld San Antonio, where,
she says, no two days were alike. On any given day, she might
be found dispensing the 411 to park guests in the bottlenose
dolphin habitat, or the preserve that houses sea lions, harbor
seals, and Asian otters.
Lawrence polished her public speaking skills through
presentations she gave about sharks, penguins, and stingrays,
and she often educated park goers about the more diminutive
critters at the conservation center like reptiles, birds, and insects.
Adding to the mix of responsibilities, Lawrence assisted with the
Dine with Shamu program—an outing for park guests who lunch
alongside SeaWorld’s family of killer whales.
Kreiser and Lawrence, having no inkling they would be
working in the same place, were thrilled to reconnect after they
spotted each other amid the park guests at SeaWorld’s Dolphin
Cove exhibit. They worked together daily, as the animal care and
education department duties often overlapped.
Landing a job at SeaWorld gave Lawrence incredible
experience, and she recently left the park to pursue a master’s
in marine biology at the University of Miami. She says, “Pursuing
a career you’re passionate about is essential . . . Nothing is more
gratifying than leaving your job at the end of the day, excited to go
back tomorrow and feeling as though you’ve made a difference.”
Equally unshakeable, Kreiser says, “Don’t let anyone convince
you to change your dreams. Sure, people were right when they
told me my field would be hard to break into, but somebody has
to do it. I decided I would be one of those people.”
READ MORE ABOUT STUDENT INTERNSHIPS
AT ENGAGEFURMAN.COM.
Liz Kreiser (left), Kate Lawrence, and one of their friendly
(and photogenic) SeaWorld residents
ENGAGE FURMAN 15
Building a Greener Greenville
by Leigh Savage
Tackling sustainability projects with real-world results
Furman is known for helping students become engaged—in their studies, in their
career choices, and in their community. Nowhere is this engagement more evident
than in Furman’s hometown of Greenville, where students with various majors and
interests are helping the city plan for the future while preparing for their own.
Angela Halfacre, an associate professor and director of the David E. Shi Center
for Sustainability, says Furman’s expertise on environmental issues is a great way to
strengthen the bond between the university and the community.
“We have close ties with the city, and that connection can be fostered by
having the glue that sustainability provides,” Halfacre says. “We are deciding what
kind of future we want, and how to best use the resources we have. Students can
work on projects that have real-world benefits.”
Courtney DeVoe
Senior Courtney DeVoe (Loveland, Ohio) didn’t
expect to publish a book before graduating,
but that’s what happened thanks to her summer
internship with Johnston Design Group, a Greenville
firm that focuses on sustainable architecture.
“It was a great way to learn more about the
firm and their ideas,” says DeVoe, who learned
how Johnston incorporates economy, ecology,
and wellness in its designs. She served as editor
and graphic designer, choosing photos and
quotations and working with Johnston on four
essays for A Blank Canvas.
Though she originally intended to major in
Brian Edens
Brian Edens ’94 is an example of how the connection
between Furman students and the Greenville community
art history, she added an urban studies major after
taking Halfacre’s environmental policy class. She
was inspired by a project on using environmentally
sound techniques to restore historic properties, and
can continue long after graduation. An economics major
her summer internship, which was funded by the
and football player at Furman, he worked in technology
Furman Advantage program, cemented her desire
sales for more than a decade before launching Thurso
Power Systems in 2010.
The Greenville-based company provides
to ensure that historic structures are preserved using
modern technology and sustainable techniques.
“I was impressed with how my summer
infrastructure for electric vehicles, and has installed
internship turned out,” she says. “I led a project
charging stations throughout the region. He started the company because he saw the
myself and got to be hands-on,
growing market for electric and hybrid vehicles and thought the next step was building
and I know it will help me down
“an available and reliable charging system.”
the road, applying for grad programs
His timing fit perfectly with the city of Greenville’s recently announced “Greening
of Greenville” initiative, in which the city is collaborating with local industries to become
more sustainable. A key aspect of the initiative is reducing the number of gasoline vehicles
on the road, in part by creating an electric vehicle ecosystem. More than 40 GE charging
and jobs. And it’s kind of nice to say
I was published as an undergrad.”
continued p.18
stations are being added throughout Greenville County, with Edens’s company heading up
the installation.
“Like Furman itself, Greenville is a beautiful and special place that needs to
be protected and preserved for future generations,” Edens says. “My education and
READ MORE ABOUT DEVOE'S INTERNSHIP
AT ENGAGEFURMAN.COM.
experiences at Furman gave me a broader view of our world and made me realize that
we need to work toward things that are bigger than ourselves.”
16 ENGAGE FURMAN
ENGAGE FURMAN 17
“We are deciding what kind of
future we want, and how to best
use the resources we have.”
Catherine Pate
Senior Catherine Pate (Greenville, S.C.), a studio art major
with a concentration in poverty studies, spent the summer
creating a portfolio documenting life in Greenville’s West
side, which will be used in community planning efforts.
“I’m interested in photojournalism, creating awareness
about people living in impoverished areas,” she says.
Though she almost attended art school, Pate decided
she wanted a liberal arts education. A poverty studies class
helped her fine-tune a career path that brings her interests
and talents together in a way that makes a difference. She
wants to pursue the idea of “sustainability for all people,
Reece Lyerly
Recent Furman graduate Reece Lyerly ’11 (Roswell, Ga.)
planted roots in the Greenville community during his
Furman years, and that relationship has continued to
flourish after graduation. Within a month of finishing at
Furman, he was named director of Gardening for Good,
a program guided by Greenville Forward, a coalition of
local non-profits and businesses.
The goal of Gardening for Good is to boost access
to and knowledge about community gardens. Lyerly was an
earth and environmental sciences major, and in the spring
of his senior year, he did an interdisciplinary project in which
he conducted a food store survey and tracked access to
fresh food in low-income areas.
“I think that’s one of the best hidden secrets at
Furman,” he says. “You can propose an independent
project, and it’s a great way to study what you are
interested in even if there is no class that addresses the
topic.” During his research, he made contacts which led
him to Gardening for Good, a job that perfectly suits his
interest in how sustainability and public health intersect.
As the sole Gardening for Good staff member,
Lyerly is creating a network for the 40 community gardens
that already exist in Greenville County while adding
gardens in low-income communities. “I’m impressed with
what Greenville has in place,” he says. “The city is very
progressive about how it’s addressing these issues, and I am
loving what I’m doing. I hope I can stay in this community.”
specifically poor people, a population with less access to
sustainable materials and products.”
Pate created her portfolio through a livability
education fellowship she found through the Shi Center,
and was able to customize the project to suit her major
and skills. She also assisted the city with a logo design and
participated in meetings on housing strategies. “I came
away with a lot of knowledge, and I hope I was able to
help them with something they didn’t have anyone on
staff to do,” she says.
Andy Wallin
Senior Andy Wallin (Simpsonville, S.C.), a music and earth
and environmental sciences major, spent his summer helping
the city of Greenville draft a climate action plan thanks to
a fellowship funded by the Arthur Vinings Davis Foundation.
“My top priority was gathering data, analyzing it, collecting
public input, and creating a draft of what the city is
currently doing,” he says.
Wallin worked closely with Brian Graham, the city’s
greenway and sustainability manager, and was pleased
to see the number of initiatives Greenville has taken,
including tracking water quality, greenspace, air quality,
and installing an electric vehicle ecosystem. He also
found room for improvement in areas such as recycling
coordination, building codes, and tax incentives for
greener building.
He says he came away with practical experience and
knowledge that will help tremendously as he heads into the
workforce. Beyond that, he was gratified by helping to build
the connection between the university and the community.
“The city has so much respect for Furman students,” he
says, and the growing list of collaborations between the
two “really benefits everyone.”
18 ENGAGE FURMAN
ENGAGE FURMAN 19
Through the First Year Seminar (FYS)
and First Year Writing Seminar (FYW)
By Bryan Betts ’14
programs, freshmen can explore
THE ROAD TO
subjects outside of general education
and major requirements. Seminars are
kept small to encourage discussion
ANDALUSIA
and collaborative learning over
lectures and exams, and learning
extends beyond the classroom
through class dinners and field trips
to places both near and far.
Here are some of this year’s
I
seminar offerings:
t's easy to miss. Across from a
Best Value Inn on the outskirts
of Milledgeville, Georgia, a pair
of white signs set back from a
busy four-lane highway mark
our destination. Hidden from the
road by trees, Andalusia, Flannery
O'Connor's farm, exists apart from
the modern world, preserved more
or less as it was when she lived
there. We bump along the dirt and
gravel road to the 1950s and ’60s,
to the place that inspired many of
the famed Southern writer’s stories.
After three and a half hours
on the road and a few months in
the classroom, seven classmates
and I have finally made it to Andalusia on a day trip with our
First Year Writing Seminar (FYW in Furman parlance). Throughout
the semester, we have honed our
writing skills against the whetstone
of O'Connor's fiction, reading and
discussing her stories in a small,
comfortable setting. Today, though,
we enjoy a break from academics and
breathe in the same sweet honeysuckle
atmosphere as O'Connor once did.
Our guide, English professor Willard Pate, awaits as we pull
up to the house. A Southern literature guru, Dr. Pate uses her
hands to explain her love for O'Connor.
“Faulkner's about here,” she says, her right hand at
her eyes. She holds her left hand an inch below. “And O’Connor's
right here.” It's high praise for a writer whose main body of work
consists of only two novels and two collections of short stories.
"A Good Man is Hard to Find" and "Good Country People,"
two of O'Connor's most well-known and frequently anthologized
works, exemplify the style for which O'Connor is famous. Dark,
grotesque, violent, humorous, religious, absurd—the stories resist
easy categorization, but what emerges from the descriptive rubble
stands among the best fiction of the 20th century.
Brick steps lead up to a large, screened porch and a row of
white rocking chairs covered with pollen. O'Connor, who lived
at Andalusia for 13 years, would sit on the porch and take in the
view. What she saw undoubtedly made its way into her fiction.
The porch looks out over a grassy field to the dirt road and a
row of trees, and through a clearing in the distance, we can see
a small pond, green in the morning light, likely the same “green
speckled lake” Hulga sees in “Good Country People.”
A faded picture of Jesus hanging above the stairway
welcomes us as we enter the house. The image reminds me
of a passage in Wise Blood, O’Connor’s first novel, where she
describes Jesus as “a wild ragged figure” moving “from tree to
tree in the back of [the] mind.” O’Connor was a devout Roman
Catholic, an oddity in the Protestant South, but was not one to
sugarcoat her faith. Her characters—nihilistic preachers, bigoted
housewives, conceited “interlechuls”—are as sinful as they are
absurd, each suffering through their own spiritual journeys.
“Grace changes us,” O’Connor
wrote, “and the change is painful.”
The house’s curator directs
our attention to a room on the
left, O'Connor's bedroom. A black
typewriter sits on her desk. Silver
crutches lean against a dresser. Seeing
the crutches, I realize how physically
weak and frail the writer was. O'Connor came to Andalusia
with her mother after being diagnosed with lupus, a disease
that gnawed at her health and eventually killed her. Each
morning, the curator explains, O’Connor woke up and wrote
for three hours, as long as her lupus would allow. To avoid
distractions, she kept her drapes closed and faced her desk
away from the window. Time was precious, and she couldn’t
afford to waste it.
After touring the house, we head outside and wander the
estate. Around back, a sign on a pump house describes the well
inside, stating that a similar one shows up in O'Connor's second
O'Connor, who lived at Andalusia
for thirteen years, would sit out
on the porch and take in the view,
and what she saw undoubtedly
made its way into her fiction.
20 ENGAGE FURMAN
Poetry from the Inside
Read, write, and discuss poems to
answer the question, “What makes
poetry a distinctive literary genre
worthy of our attention?”
To Walk the Land
Hike with your class and learn to
appreciate the environment of
Upstate South Carolina.
Eating as a Sustainable Act
Learn about the food you eat, how
that food is produced, and the
economic, social, and environmental
impacts of eating.
Chocolate: Science, Culture,
novel, The Violent Bear It Away. While we
didn't read that book, the sign reminds me
that O'Connor couldn't help but write her
home into her stories.
Taking turns, we look down into the
darkness of the well, unimpressed. Then
someone flips a light switch, revealing the
hole that descends deep into the earth.
We crowd into the small space and marvel
at the well like small children examining
a strange bug on the playground.
As we walk toward the back of the
property we find buildings that might have
been plucked from O'Connor’s stories. The
barn from “Good Country People.” The milk
processing shed from “The Enduring Chill.”
The stories start to merge with the place,
making it harder to distinguish fact from
fiction. Leaning against the barn, a wooden
ladder leads up to the hayloft where the
Bible salesman tricked Hulga into giving
up her prosthetic leg. In a sense, Hulga
is still up there, stranded by both the Bible
salesman and O’Connor’s unresolved ending.
At the end of our tour we drive down
the road to Memory Hill Cemetery, where
O’Connor is buried. We gather around the
grave and talk and laugh; it feels like an
oddly appropriate way to finish our journey.
Here, as in O’Connor's fiction, death and
life, grotesque and beautiful, comic and
spiritual, all dwell together. For a moment,
I feel as though I’ve entered one of her
stories, having left reality to become a
character in a world that, despite being
fictional, bears a remarkable resemblance
to our own.
and History
Prepare and consume chocolate while
studying the symbolism and history of
chocolate production.
House and Philosophy
Examine the early seasons of the
television series House, MD using
the writings of Socrates, Aristotle,
Nietzsche, and Sartre.
Secret Codes: Wars, Computing,
and E-Commerce
Study the history and practice of
cryptography to understand how,
during World War II, it was a major
incentive for the development of the
Bryan Betts is an English major from Fort Mill,
S.C. In addition to working as an editorial
assistant in Furman's Office of Marketing and
Public Relations, he also writes for Furman’s
student newspaper, The Paladin.
first computers.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
FIRST YEAR SEMINARS, VISIT
FURMAN.EDU/FYS.
ENGAGE FURMAN 21
By Katie Levans ’07
meet the
bloggers
Uncut and unedited—get a frontrow seat for freshman year!
Want to know what your first year at Furman will be like? Sure, we can
show you lots of exciting pictures, tell you some great stories, or link
you to a video, but wouldn’t you rather hear it from the source?
Meet five first-year students who'll give you the skinny in their
weekly blogs and answer any questions you have about Furman.
Check out their blogs at engagefurman.com
Hannah Holmes
Houston, Tex.
I get into food, fashion, reading,
and writing. I love hanging out
with friends, watching movies,
exploring downtown Greenville,
and eating at new restaurants.
The Saturday morning Farmer's
Market is one of my favorite things
about downtown. I chose Furman
because it's a school that's small
enough that I see familiar faces around
campus, but large enough that I meet new people daily. I’m a cheerleader. I'm
considering majoring in communications and Spanish . . . but that could very
well change as I explore other majors and classes.
AJ Calhoun
Charlotte, N.C.
I like to cook. I still build LEGOs.
My favorite word is “juxtaposition”
followed in close second by
“irrevocably.” I can be seen perusing
the libretto to a musical, dabbling in
some philosophy, deconstructing a
case study, demystifying a religious text,
intently learning from a dummies guide,
or just enjoying a good novel. I am the youngest
person working for Apple Computer in Charlotte, N.C.
I am teaching myself to play the mandolin. I listen to music on vinyl.
I drink approximately four gallons of Minute Maid lemonade a week.
22 ENGAGE FURMAN
admission advice
Madeline Gabor
Pepper Pike, Ohio
I devour cookie
dough—watch out.
Waking up early is
the best. I believe in
sweating once a day.
I love speaking
Mandarin, Chinese.
Watercoloring relaxes me.
I am obsessed with Greek, Lebanese,
Ethiopian, Thai, and Indian food. I love meeting people.
Riding insane rollercoasters excites me. I will never get
tired of flying in airplanes. I don’t let my age define
me, and I don’t think anyone should. I’m Italian and
Hungarian—you know why I love food. I’m not a dancer,
but I dance. I believe that everyday is an opportunity to
be the best person I can be, and for that, I am thankful.
Bryson Wightman
Aiken, S.C.
I play the bassoon—it’s
big and uses two reeds.
I love to speak German.
Sometimes I forget
that my Palapoints are
limited. Sunday is the
worst day of the week—
Chick-fil-A is closed. I like
reality shows. I danced for
six years before coming to Furman,
and I’m in the Paladin Regiment, Furman’s super-awesome
marching band. I have an infatuation with left things:
left-handedness, left-side traffic, etc.
Qidan Guo
Shenzhen,
Guangdong,
China
I am from
Shenzhen,
a city that is
only a 45-minute
drive from Hong
Kong. I love cooking,
listening to music, and
riding bikes. I haven't decided yet, but I might major in
economics or computer science, and after graduation,
I may go to graduate school and study business.
Have you applied yet?
It’s not too late!
If you’re talented, driven, fun, intellectually curious, and
passionate, then Furman is the school for you. At Furman,
we educate students to be the next generation’s problemsolvers. Our signature approach to the liberal arts helps
students cross disciplinary boundaries and think with
open minds, ensuring success in life.
If you want to feel like you matter, if you want an education
that will help you to change the future, then you want to
apply to Furman.
The deadline to apply Regular Decision is January 15.
Already applied? Congratulations!
We look forward to learning more about you through your
application and supplement.
If you haven’t already, please take a moment to sign up for
a Furman Admission Network (FAN) interview. These informal
interviews with Furman alumni or parents allow you to speak
with someone who knows Furman personally and to see if
Furman is the right fit for you. It also allows us to get to know
you in ways that your application may not have revealed.
At Furman, we take a personal approach to the admission
process, which means we want to get to know you as an
individual. Sure, all schools say this, but our test-optional
policy, FAN interviews, and attention to all details about
your application prove that we approach each student on
an individual basis.
To sign up for a FAN interview, visit engagefurman.com and
click on the Engage Community banner. After creating a profile
and being matched with your counselor, click on “Home (Feed)”
at the top of the page. On the right-hand side of your home
page will be a box titled “Furman Admission Network Interview
Request.” Click on “Sign me up!” and follow the prompts.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? Visit engagefurman.com and click on “Join Now”
to create your profile and connect with your admission counselor.
the furman community
ENGAGE FURMAN 23
furman facts
Did you know?
Background—A private liberal
Campus—750-acre campus with lake; 36
Honor Societies—Phi Beta Kappa,
Furman University was a
pioneer in engaged learning
as a practice and a concept.
Today many colleges and
universities use the term
“engaged learning” to
promote their programs.
Furman is flattered—after all,
imitation is the highest form
arts university founded in 1826
major buildings including 490,000-plus
Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma,
and nationally acclaimed for its
volume library; newly renovated science
and numerous departmental honoraries
academic excellence, engaged
complex with more than $6 million of
learning program, Division I
scientific equipment; 2,000-seat audito-
athletics and campus beauty
rium; music complex with recital halls and
of praise.
Location—Greenville, South
Carolina (metropolitan population
400,000), five miles north of
downtown
technology lab; physical activities center
with workout facilities; chapel; 16,000-seat
football stadium; tennis center; soccer
5,800 applications for a freshman class of
795. Admitted students typically displayed
an academic record that included advanced
courses with strong grades.
stadium; and 18-hole golf course
Students—2,700 undergraduates
Sports—Furman fields 17 NCAA Division I
from 46 states and 47 countries
men’s and women’s teams, as well as 16
Faculty—231, 96 percent with
In 2011, the Office of Admission received
club sports and a host of intramural teams.
the highest degree in their field
Student-to-Faculty Ratio—11:1
Plan Your Visit!
Average Class Size—19
You can visit Furman almost any
time. To schedule a visit, go to
www.engagefurman.com/visit or
call 864.294.2034.
Apply Online
www.engagefurman.com/apply
Select an application date that suits you.
You now have more options when it comes to
application deadlines. The application date you
choose all depends on when you would like to make
your final college decision. Select the date that works
best for you, and go online to www.engagefurman.
com/apply to complete your Furman application.
24 ENGAGE FURMAN
OPTION 1 | Early Decision
OPTION 2 | Early Action
OPTION 3 | Regular Decision
If Furman is your first choice, apply Early Decision.
By applying Early Action, you’re notified of
If you want to keep your options open and
If admitted, withdraw all other applications, and
your admission decision sooner, allowing you
won’t be able to decide until May 1, apply
then you can relax while your friends are filling out
more time to make your choice.
Regular Decision.
application after application.
November 15—Your application is due.
January 15—Your application is due.
November 1—Your application is due.
February 1—Decision letters are mailed.
March 1—Complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile,
November 15—Complete the CSS Profile, with notification
February 15—Complete the FAFSA and CSS
with notification of financial aid award on or
of financial aid award on or about December 15.
Profile, with notification of financial aid award
about April 1.
December 1—Decision letters are mailed.
on or about March 1.
April 1—Decision letters are mailed.
January 5—Statement of Intent and enrollment deposit due.
May 1—Statement of Intent and enrollment
May 1—Statement of Intent and enrollment
March 1—Complete the FAFSA.
deposit due.
deposit due.
Majors, Programs, and
Concentrations
Accounting
Ancient Greek and Roman Studies*
Art
Asian Studies
Biology
Black Cultures in the Americas*
Business Administration
Chemistry
Classics
Communication Studies
Computer Science
Computer Science–Mathematics
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Economics
Education
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Secondary Education
Special Education
Engineering (dual degree)
English
English for Speakers
of other Languages*
Environmental Studies*
French
German Studies
Greek
Health Sciences
History
Individualized Curriculum Program
Information Technology
Latin
Latin American Studies*
Mathematics
Mathematics–Economics
Music
Church Music
Composition
Music Education
Music Theory
Performance
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Poverty Studies*
Prelaw Studies**
Premedical Studies and
Health Careers**
Psychology
Religion
Science Education*
Sociology
Sustainability Science
Spanish
Theatre Arts
Urban Studies
Women, Gender, and
Sexuality Studies*
*concentration
**program of study
ENGAGE
Furman University Admission
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, South Carolina 29613-5245
MEET THE CLASS OF 2015
They’re athletes and authors, researchers and award-winners,
daredevils and visionaries.
210 two-sport athletes
157 traveled outside the U.S.
168 captains of varsity sports
41 student body presidents
47 editors of school publications
34 theater stars
5 black belts
33 Eagle/Gold Scout Award winners
24 valedictorians
ÀUVWFKDLUEDQGVWDUV
10 conducted academic research
6 published authors
309 NHS members
3 squash players
)RXQGHURIDQRQSURÀWWKDW
has raised over $2 million
Pro racecar driver
Licensed skydiver
Pilot
Irish step dancing
champion
Lemur caretaker