Fall 2025 Issue

I grew up on a farm in a town of fewer than 400 people, where my school had one hallway and no stairs. As a first-generation college student, everything about higher education felt foreign — from the terminology to the unspoken rules. When I arrived on campus, I was excited … but also overwhelmed. I didn’t know how to find my classes or even that room numbers could tell you which floor to go to. The buildings seemed enormous, and I wasn’t sure where to begin.

That’s when I met Amy, my resident assistant. She noticed I looked a little lost during those first few days (because I was), and instead of just pointing me in the right direction, she walked with me. She showed me where my classes were, explained how room numbers worked and helped me understand a world that felt entirely new. Her kindness gave me confidence before I had a chance to find it myself. That small gesture changed the trajectory of my experience.

That’s the power of someone walking with you. While so much about the student experience has evolved, that part remains the same.

Today’s Central students arrive with stories as diverse and complex as their backgrounds. Some are legacy students whose families have loved this place for generations. Others are stepping onto a college campus for the first time in their lives — unsure of the path ahead but full of potential. No matter who they are, all of them benefit when someone sees them, reaches out and offers to walk alongside them.

At Central, that happens every day. Faculty learn students’ names and care about their well-being. Staff offer encouragement over coffee or in passing conversations. Peers support one another in residence halls, student organizations, athletics teams and late-night study sessions. This kind of community doesn’t happen by accident — it’s woven into the fabric of who we are.

The “who” walking with our students might be a roommate who offers reassurance, a coach who believes in their growth or a professor who notices when they’re struggling. It might be a Spirit Shoppe employee who greets them by name or a local Pella resident who offers a word of encouragement or a homemade treat. These everyday interactions become memories that last well beyond graduation. I often think about Amy — how she didn’t just help me find my classes, but helped me find my footing. I doubt she remembers that moment, but I do. And I always will.

So, I ask you: Who walked with you? And who might need you to walk with them now?

Your continued care and support help make these moments possible — and we’re deeply grateful.