There are nearly 25,000 Pensacola Christian College graduates across the globe. Many have revisited Pensacola sometime after graduation, but many still have not. In hopes to reach even more alumni this fall, the Alumni Services team increased the number of regional Alumni Reconnects.
The first weekend came and went successfully. On Friday and then Saturday, graduates from around Milwaukee, WI, and Denver, CO, came together for a time of fellowship. Semiformal yet warm and fun, each evening created a space to mingle with former roommates, fellow classmates, and new friends. Attendees enjoyed a delicious dinner, had the chance to ask President Troy Shoemaker a question—the highlight of the evening—and brought home some stellar alumni merchandise.
A spirit of warmth and excitement
The spirit of the Alumni Reconnect was one of warmth and excitement of seeing old friends and connecting with new friends over shared memories and experiences. “It was a very emotional time for everyone as we relived some great memories of PCC,” shared Dr. Doug Zila, the Alumni and Career Services Director.
“I had such a great time, I didn’t even check my phone,” said Kim Gillinov (Nursing ’14).
This was the third Reconnect that Kim and her husband, Corey (Youth Ministries ’12), had attended. As graduates, the Gillinovs appreciated the ability to join with alumni in the Midwest and engage with their alma mater. “[It] felt like reconnecting with family, walking down memory lane together and hearing what God is doing in everyone’s lives post-graduation,” Kim shared. “We would say that it is a wonderful evening of reconnecting with old friends but also looking back at God’s goodness in the past and how He continues to work in the here and now. My husband and I both walked away with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration to keep serving the Lord. He has been so good!”
“My husband and I both walked away with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration to keep serving the Lord.”
The proximity of the Milwaukee Reconnect from Sarah Urban (Nursing ’10) influenced her decision to go, and she is glad that she did. “I signed up to attend the event by myself, not really knowing at the time who would be there (or even if there would be anyone there who I knew well),” she said. “At the event, though, I got to connect with several people who I knew or had not seen in many years. It was so nice hearing how God has been working in their lives.”
Renewed gratitude and purpose
Nathanael (Pastoral Ministries ’07) and Laurie (Humanities ’06) Rust didn’t mind the 35-minute drive to Milwaukee. The greatest takeaways for Nathanael were visiting with Dr. Zila and listening to Dr. Shoemaker share the latest about the College. “Hearing from his heart on how God is using him to keep the mission alive and on track with our heritage [was what I enjoyed most],” Nathanael said. “It’s easy to forget the impact and legacy of the College that reaches further back than my ‘good ole days.’”
Not having to travel far was a blessing to Heather Turnrose (Elementary Education ’03) since she and her husband are busy raising five children, and he holds a demanding position in IT healthcare. “I reconnected with a girl I knew my freshman year and found out that she lived only a few hours south of me,” Heather shared. She was thrilled to discover that some people she knew lived so close to her. “I sat with a young lady that graduated in ’16 and it was neat to hear about her experience at the college versus mine,” Heather added.
“As a parent of a current PCC student, it was such a blessing to hear [Dr. Shoemaker’s] heart for the students.”
Since she was a student during Dr. Arlin Horton’s presidency, Heather was grateful to hear how he was faring. “It was very special to me because when I was at PCC, Dr. Horton was a man you revered, but to hear about him on a personal level made him even more endearing to me,” she explained. “I loved my time at PCC, [and] I like the direction that the Shoemakers are taking with the College.”
It meant a lot to Jessica (Home Economics ’97) and Jason (Engineering ’98) Wenger to hear Dr. Shoemaker’s heart for the student body. “As a parent of a current PCC student, it was such a blessing to hear his heart for the students. He is a man who truly tries to care for them as if they were his own kids,” Jessica explained. “Also, knowing how we can pray for the administration takes on new meaning.”
“We enjoyed connecting with other PCC alumni and sharing stories and memories about our years at PCC,” the Wengers agreed.
A promise to keep in touch
In a large room full of graduates from anywhere between 1976 to 2024, the unifying bond was a love and support for a shared alma mater. Alumni and Event Coordinator, Lauren Bertram, was pleased with the turnout at the recent events. “Dr. Shoemaker and the vice presidents do an excellent job of emphasizing that the evening is all about the alumni—their experiences, their journeys, their questions—which makes the attendees feel like the honored, special guests that they are,” she summarized.
“The goal of these events is simply stated in its name—to reconnect.”
“The goal of these events is simply stated in its name—to reconnect: for the alumni to reconnect with other alumni, with the administration of the College, and with the mission of PCC,” said Lauren. PCC offers a lifelong community for graduates in the Alumni Association, a way to stay connected that benefits members both professionally and socially. Dr. Zila added, “[We seek to] love on our alumni and let them know that, even though they have graduated, they are still part of the PCC family and that they are not alone; we are there for them.”
“If you haven’t gone [to an alumni event], sign up and go!” encouraged Jessica Wenger. “It is a blessing to reconnect with others who share the same experiences as you.”