"My time at Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) is something I cherish deeply. I made long-lasting friendships and had lots of opportunities to grow academically as well as in other aspects of my life. As a student in the biology department, I am clearly biased, but I would still say that it was the best department I could have chosen at SWAU. I owe a significant amount of that to the department's faculty and staff. They were people who were excellent at teaching, sensible in their mentoring, and exemplary in their demeanor, not only during our interactions at school but also during the many times they entertained us at their homes. I would say that my time at SWAU shaped and polished my professional goals and was instrumental in providing me with the tools to achieve them."