From a young age, Assistant Director of Admissions and alumnus Alex J amerison had the instinct to stand up and share what he thought. He knew Harding would give him great opportunities in his pursuit of a preaching career, but he did not expect those opportunities to manifest themselves before graduation. In the fall of 2014, J amerison, a senior at the time, was sitting in the computer lab when he overheard two students discussing the "Next Gen Preacher Search," a nationwide preaching competition for men and women ranging in age from high school students to seniors in college. ,Jeff Walling, a preacher and faculty member at Pepperdine University, started the program "to encourage and inspire young people towards the ministry of God's word," according to the program website. After finding out more about the competition, Jamerison's friends and family encouraged him to submit a video entry. In January of 2015, a panel of preachers selected Jamerison as one of 40 semifinalists out of 120 applicants from across the country. Half of the selected group traveled to Pepperdine for a weekend seminar, and the other halflater attended the same workshop at Johnson University in Florida. J amerison counted the weekend he spent at Pepperdine as invaluable. The students spent their time working with ministers who shared their wisdom and experience with the selected participants. "Next Gen is centered around mentorship, and we spent a lot of time learning how we could improve and grow in sharing our message, and I'm just blessed to have been a part of it," Jamerison said. At the end of the weekend seminar, the students rerecorded the lesson they used in their _application. Sixty different preachers across the nation viewed and ranked the videos, selecting four outstanding student entries - including Jamerison's. Freshman Jack Allen, another one of the four chosen students, said even though they were being recognized as winners, the whole experience was very humbling. "You would think being picked like this would be something that'd boost up your ego, but it was very much the opposite effect,"Allen said. "We got asked to speak at several huge conventions, and the four of us really ended up bonding and working together on things." Despite feeling drawn to preaching since childhood, J ame1ison admitted at first he was reluctant towards pursuing a career in ministry. "When I thought of a preacher, I thought of someone who had to be in a suit and a tie all day, ST,\ FF ~ I :J and I didn't want that," Jamerison said. "Then I realized that a preacher didn't have to be confined to the idea of a preacher that I had growing up, and so I decided I wanted to be a traveling preacher." Through connections made in the Next Gen program, Jamerison's traveling preacher dreams came to fruition. He had the chance to do eve1ything from speaking to a crowd of thousands at the North America Christian Convention in Cincinnati to completing a summer internship in the Bahamas. After graduating, J amerison started working for the admissions office at Harding. Glenn Dillard, the assistant vice president for enrollment management, said asking Jamerison to join the Undergraduate Admissions team was an easy decision. "He had served as a student worker in our office, so we already knew that his positive personality and big smile were things that would allow him to positively impact future Harding students," Dillard said. As an admissions employee, Jamerison traveled and shared with prospective students while fulfilling preaching engagements. "Paul was always scooting all over the place, and now I am, too," Jamerison said. "If I've learned anything, it's that being a preacher doesn't mean being tied down to one spot." Kara Abston, Asst. Dean of Students Debbie Anderson, Bookkeeper Barbara A..,hJe), Admin. Asst. to Director Bethany A.spey, B.A., Web Content Mgr/Public Relations Kari Aziamov. . \sst. Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Danny Baird. Ekctncian Bob Barnett, PreYenti\·e Main Services Specialist Micah Bartz, Sec. FYE Shaun Bell. Sl'c/Dispatcher Cassie Bennett, Admin. Asst. of Theatre Donald Bennett, Pressman Debbie Berry, B.B.A., Admin. Asst. to Scnior\"P Phil Berry, B.B.A.., Women's Softball Coach Ken Bissell, Senior Officer of Harding FunJ Lyn Blansett, B.A.. Senior DB.A Oracle 9i & llg OCA Sarah Bobo, Young Alumni Assoc. Penny Bohannan, Admin. Assist. of Bu,iness Office Launa Bookwalter, Asst. to Library Director ,John Boone, Desk Clerk of Heritage Inn Katherine Boone, Office Mgr. of Physical Resources Meredith Boutell, Admin. Asst. ofFCS Kelly Brackett, Sccreta1-y of Public Relations Virginia Bradley, Po;;tal Services Spcciali>l Fed. Chelsea Brandon. MBA Recruiting Specialist Claudette Bratcher, E,ec. Assist. to Chancellor Shellie Brown, Postal Logistics Clerk Tammy Brukardt, Accounting Assistant Tom Buterbaugh. Asst. Dir. of Public Relations Dan Campbell, Senior Officer of Harding Fund Roxie Campbell, Asst. Dir. of Postal ScrYiccs Allison Case, LMS Support Specialist Amie Carter, Asst. Dir. of Human Resources Jeanne Castleberry, Dir. of Admissions/Nursin?, Teresa Castleman, Admin. Asst. to VP Church Relations Jane Cavitt, Reg. & Class Schedule Coard.
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