to harding Freshman Lily Stebbins finished high school one year early to attend Harding. Seventeen-year-old freshman integrated marketing communication major Lily Stebbins came to Harding following her older brother, freshman media production major Sam Stebbins, after graduating from high school a year early. The Stebbins siblings moved from Hanover, New Hampshire, to Fayetteville, Arkansas, when Lily Stebbins was 12 years old. From that time, both siblings were homeschooled. Lily Stebbins started homeschooling in eighth grade and took high school level classes with her brother. By the time she completed her junior year of high school, she already had a complete transcript. The Stebbins siblings heard about Harding through their youth group's visit to Uplift every summer. Lily Stebbins attended the camp for the first time in June 2015 and returned each year. "I realized all of this in June while my brother was attending the first session of Bison Bound," Lily Stebbins said. "It hit me that I would be homeschooling alone for my senior year, and I could not imagine having to do that. So, I convinced my mom to let me talk to admissions. Long story short, I was accepted on June 18 -- the day after my 17th birthday!" Steve Shaner, assistant professor of communication, who met the Stebbins siblings during Bison Bound in June, said Sam Stebbins registered for classes, and his little sister just came along for the ride. 168 freshmen "I engaged them in conversation, along with their mom, and found out that only Sam was coming to school in the fall," Shaner said. He invited the siblings to come by his office and jokingly told Lily Stebbins if she could graduate high school early, he would set her up with a schedule as well. He said he never imagined she would go home and accomplish this challenge. Shaner later received an email from Lily Stebbins saying she would be attending Bison Bound in July to register for classes as well. "They may not be twins, but they are as close as a brother and sister could be without being twins," Shaner said. "They are just sweet, sweet siblings. Harding is blessed to have both of them." Lily Stebbins said she was grateful for the people she met at Harding. "I have met so many lovely and unique people already," Lily Stebbins said. "My roommate -- who was randomly assigned to live with me -- and I get along really well, which is such a blessing." Sam Stebbins spoke about his first semester fondly. "It has been great so far --I have been learning more and growing closer to God; what more could you ask for?" Sam Stebbins said. story by Alexandra Regida
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==