Brenda Brightman was a 2016 graduate from UT Arlington working at Medical City Fort Worth last fall when she talked to Hina Paracha, a nursing student at Southwestern Adventist University. Hina convinced Brightman to watch a past nursing pinning ceremony from Southwestern Adventist University with her on YouTube. Watching it impressed Brightman.

Brightman was especially touched by the presentation of Russ Laughlin, Vice President for Spiritual Development. As a result, she realized that “this university understood what it is like to have God as the center of everything.” Being at a school where the university president is willing to sit down in the cafeteria and talk to students showed her how caring the staff at Southwestern Adventist University is. “I am blessed to be here.”

As a student who is also a mother, Brightman is constantly challenged by time management, but blessed by a supportive husband and parents who live in nearby Mansfield. Brightman has a personal goal to start her own non-profit organization someday to help the less fortunate. “I want to share God’s love,” she says.

“Hearing stories like Brenda’s demonstrates the reason why we exist and demonstrates the value of a faith-based educational experience,” says Ken Shaw, University president.

Southwestern Adventist University video collection gives a visual perspective of the University’s impact and can be found at: www.youtube.com/southwesternau.