20 questions

1) Hometown:
A small, rural town in Tennessee called Oliver Springs. I spent most of my time, however, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where there is actually some form of civilization.

2) Family/Pets:
My dad, Andy, works at the Oak Ridge National Lab. My mom, Carolyn, is the word list manager for the Scripps National Spelling Bee (the one on ESPN and ABC). I have two older brothers, Ned and John. Ned graduated from Yale, went to UVA Law, and now works as a prosecutor in Danville, Virginia. John went to Princeton and attended graduate school at Georgia Tech. He now works for the Air Force in Omaha, Nebraska. I don't have any pets (allergies run in the family).

3) High School:
I spent my high school years at two schools. My freshman and sophomore years were completed at Oak Ridge High School (ORHS) in Tennessee, and I finished off high school at Carlbrook School in Danville, Virginia.

4) Extracurricular activities:
At ORHS, I spent most of my extracurricular time playing football for the school and volunteering for two organizations: Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, and Habitat for Humanity. I also worked a part-time fundraising job. At Carlbrook, I decided to branch out to a multitude of activities. I maintained my athleticism by participating in almost every intramural sport offered, but I also took on a considerable number of leadership positions in the school's committees. I was the head of both the Activities and Athletic Committees, and I was also a member of the Student Technology Committee, and the Disciplinary Committee. I also served a term on the school's student government. Consistent throughout my years of high school were my passions for literature, playing guitar, and practicing my faith.

5) High school career highlight:
When I was elected by the students as the Vice-President of Carlbrook, I got a chance to serve my school in a very influential way. It was one of the most worthwhile experiences of my life.

6) Favorite past "My CENTRE Lifer":
Tim (MCL-2). It seems like we chose Centre for the same reason—the fact that we walked on campus and felt a sense of familiarity with the other students; like we were already accepted. He seems like a good, hardworking guy.

7) The thing you are most looking forward to about Centre:
Probably the simple experience of learning how to deal with the renowned college atmosphere (but the soft-serve machine at Cowan comes in a close second).

8) Your greatest apprehension about college:
I'm pretty worried about the increase in academic difficulty that comes with moving from high school to college. I managed to perform pretty well in academics up to this point, but I'm apprehensive about how I'll do at a more intense level.

9) The way your parents feel about you moving out:
Well, I've already been away for two years at a boarding school, so the idea of living without me isn't that new to them. They are concerned, however, about my exposure to all the dangerous elements that are present at college, as most parents are.

10) Intended major(s):
Religion.

11) If you could bring one performer/group to the Norton Center for the Arts, it would be:
Definitely, the Dave Matthews Band—I've heard it is incredible to see them live.

12) Worst movie ever:
You Got Served (it's just beyond description...)

13) Most memorable trip/vacation:
Probably a white-water rafting trip in West Virginia with my friends last summer. It was the first time I'd ever rafted, and I was responsible for the boat flipping at least three times, but it was some of the most fun I've had in my life. When we weren't rafting, we camped together and went to a rock-climbing course.

14) Favorite smell:
The smell of a barbecue grill, especially one cooking ribs.

15) Person you most admire:
John McCain. The story of his life is fascinating to me, but his actions and decisions during his time spent as a POW and his political values make him extremely admirable to me.

16) Person (living or dead) you'd most like to meet:
The Apostle Paul. Of those religious figures not considered to be descended from the divine (unlike Jesus, Muhammad, the Dalai Lama), he is possibly the most influential. His work greatly shaped the world's religious philosophies and made an impact still very visible today.

17) If stranded on a deserted island, what would be the one non-survival item you'd want with you
I would have to say a comfortable armchair—sitting on rocks and stumps would get terribly old after awhile.

18) If you had thought of it first, the invention that you wish you were credited with would be:
Definitely the air conditioning unit. Growing up in hot and humid Tennessee has caused me to come to revere this beautiful amenity.

19) Describe yourself in a haiku:
scholar, gentleman
pensive yet energetic
with old Southern blood

20) Why did you choose Centre?
When I walked onto the Centre campus, I felt an immediate sense of warmth and a community presence that was absent at the other colleges I visited. When I passed people on the sidewalks, they looked me in the eyes and smiled. At other places I visited, most of the people walked with heads down, talking on cell phones. I visited a class at Centre, and the students gave me a pleasant welcome. It was a class addressing religion, the field I plan to major in, so I was especially interested. When I expressed this to the professor afterwards, he took time to openly talk to me for at least fifteen minutes, an act which showed me how involved the faculty is willing to be with the students and which confirmed my observation of the hospitality the college community extends. When I was on campus, I did not feel like I had to work to earn people's acceptance; it was already offered to me the moment I showed up.