What Parents Say...
The following excepts are from a few parents of current Houghton students.
Susan & Tim (parents of Allison)
As we were looking for the school God would have Allison attend
for her undergraduate years there were few that compared to
Houghton in our eyes. Since our children have been very
young, both my husband and I have prayed that they, as young
adults, would desire to attend a Christian college with a strong
faith based, Christ centered atmosphere.
We felt Houghton would enable her to be challenged not only
academically, but far more important, challenged in life skills
and personal conviction.
Both Tim and I smile every time we speak of Houghton to others.
We walked away from the first day of school at the East Hall
dorms and said, " What a great place to be depositing our
daughter!"
Robin & Brent (parents of Luke)
Houghton College has made all the difference! Two summers ago, we dragged our son to a campus visit at Houghton and all the way there he questioned why we would be taking him to the middle of nowhere - but once we arrived he knew why.
Everyone we met was gracious and warm, and the facility was beautifully maintained. We believe it was God who drew our son to Houghton. That very day, God placed in our son's path just the right professor who said just the right things to change our son’s heart and mind about attending Houghton.
From that time on, God has continued to work through the words and actions of professors and other students to open the eyes of our son’s heart and to show him who Jesus really is. It is also through the faithfulness and conscientiousness of very talented faculty that our son is gaining an education for life - not just for a "job." The academic challenges he encounters at Houghton are shaping him into the kind of thinker this world needs. We feel so blessed that Houghton College is a place filled with God’s spirit and as a result, our son’s life will be forever changed.
George (father of Kaylie)
From day one Houghton has been a place that Kaylie has felt comfortable in exploring and pursuing the call that God has placed on her heart.
Kaylie has grown in her self confidence and has enjoyed
exploring who she is through her participation in Art,
Communication and Intercultural Studies classes. She has grown
tremendously in her faith and we have watched as she has lived
out her beliefs through her participation in the tutoring
program at Journey's End, lobbying politicians in Washington
about Darfur, ministering to the homeless and participating
in the local church.
Kaylie is now a Junior and will be in Tanzania for her spring
semester. She is feeling a call to minister in Africa and I as
her parent am excited about the opportunity this unique program
allows her in her understanding of God's greater purpose for her
life. If you were to talk with Kaylie about her experience at
Houghton you will find that she loves it.
We have seen Kaylie develop a community of relationships that she will enjoy for the rest of her life and feel grateful to Houghton for the life long impact it has had on her life.
Dave & Teresa (parents of Katie)
Our daughter, Katie, knew she wanted to attend a small college.
However, she also thought she preferred a secular school, after
graduating from a Christian high school.
For three semesters she survived in the spiritual wasteland of a
small liberal arts school in the southeast. Known for its
strong academic program, the school also featured a wide open
campus life filled with everything most parents dread about
college life for their children. She and her roommate
successfully avoided this aspect of the school. During the
Christmas break of her Sophomore year, she felt led to switch to
Houghton (she had already applied and been accepted). Mom
and Dad were able to do some quick logistics and Katie joined
Houghton for the first day of classes in January, 2007.
We were concerned how Katie might fit in socially as a transfer student, and we were also concerned about the strength of the academic program at a school only two thirds the size of the one she left. Both concerns vanished almost immediately. Katie quickly made a number of very close friends, and she earned the respect of several professors. She also noticed that the academic challenge GREW at Houghton. And Katie is majoring in biology! Now in her second semester at Houghton, she loves every minute. She has great friends, enjoys her teachers and the challenge they present her, and is privileged to be a significant part of the school’s equestrian program.
During her first three semesters of college, answering a phone call from Katie was likely to encounter sobs and tears. Since she has been at Houghton, every phone call has been filled with joy.
When we moved Katie back to campus in August for the Fall 2007 semester, I witnessed something I never knew happened at any college: one of Katie’s science professors welcomed her back to school with a big hug! There truly is something special (and especially good) about Houghton College.
Mary & Jim Vitale (parents of Alex & Kyle)
We were searching for a college that would teach the values we instilled in our children. Those Christian values are very important to us, as they are to our children. However, the college also would have to possess a strong academic program.
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| The Vitale family (L to R, James, Kyle, Mary, Jim, Alex) |
We had heard a little about Houghton College from friends and decided to learn more about it. One of the things we quickly found out was that Houghton was the real deal. There was no hype, they presented who they are, what they stand for and what they are trying to accomplish. We found many other colleges made claims, but could not live up to them. We were impressed with the honesty and candidness of all those we met during the admissions process and while our 2 children have been there. For instance, the college stated that no alcohol was allowed on campus. Many other colleges make that claim, but we all know it is not true. Well, at Houghton it is true.
The fact that Houghton continues to have separate dorms for male and female students demonstrates the college’s commitment to Christian values. Houghton also encourages students to be independent. While Houghton requires students to attend chapel, we are amazed at how many students organize and participate in student led worship teams and bible studies.
We have also found the academics to be of a very high standard. The professors are there to teach. Their number one priority is the student’s success, both academically and spiritually. We cannot say enough to convey our satisfaction with Houghton, except to say that not only do we love Houghton, so do our children.
