by Danielle Ellis

When planning for a college experience, every prospective student and his or her parents have ideals.

Whether they include a Division I football team or a particular program, they form a basis of schools for the student to consider. For Latter-day Saint students, the social and spiritual environment is often as much a part of the decision as anything else.

It is clear that students attending a Church school such as BYU get both a world-class degree and exceptional spiritual and social opportunities. Are those same spiritual and social opportunities available at other universities? No matter what school students attend, they must create the college experience they want.

Happily, the answer is yes, students can find a great college experience outside of a Church school; even in our own back yard. We spoke to Mande Adams, Coordinator of Greek Life, Student Involvement and Activities at UNLV, and a lifelong member of the Church. We also caught up with Jeff Panchavinin, the new Student Body President at UNLV, also a member of the Church and returned missionary.

Mande Adams
Mande Adams was born in Utah while her parents were completing their BYU degrees, and has early memories of eating cheeseburgers at the Cougareat and seeing the fish and animals and the science building with her parents. So her love of college campuses runs deep. After graduation, her parents moved to Illinois, so she spent her growing-up years being one of only a few members of the Church. Finding positive people and experiences has been not only vital for her; it has been a blessing.

Mande says that she was “a very involved student both in and out of the classroom.” She found friends through many venues: as a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority; as co-founder of Big Blue Crew at Utah State University; institute; student government; church sorority Lambda Delta Sigma; volunteering and traveling abroad. She feels that her broad exposure to different people gave her “opportunities to speak openly about the church and share my beliefs and values” with many students.

Working at UNLV for two years, Mande is in contact with an even broader range of students. As she gets to know students, she often fields questions about her life and her faith. She has been able to talk with many of them about the Church and be a missionary. She adds, “One of the neatest things I have done is finding the strength and courage to write my testimony in the front flap of a Book of Mormon and giving them to friends after they have inquired about the Church.”

Mande continues, “I always hear the voice of my Sunday school teachers and parents encouraging the youth to ‘stand in holy places’ and to ‘be in the world and not of the world.’ As I work with students these thoughts help me shape challenging conversations to help a student in their development. I am encouraging them to make wise and healthy choices to fulfill their collegiate experience.”

Jeff Panchavinin
Jeff Panchavinin is a native Las Vegan, and had always rooted for the Rebels, so when it came time for school after his mission, UNLV was the obvious choice. Jeff found ways to get himself involved right away, belonging to as many as six different clubs or groups. “I thought that getting involved would be the best way for me to continue to grow, during my undergraduate years and beyond,” he says.

In a surprising turn for the old stereotypes, Jeff has found fulfillment, friends and service opportunities through the Greek system of his fraternity. “Most people think of the movie stereotype of fraternity boys, drinking and making trouble. But a major goal of fraternities is to become gentlemen,” he says. All fraternities, he says, are obligated by their charter organizations to do philanthropic work. One of Jeff’s close friends through his fraternity was last year’s LDSSA president. So Jeff has found good friends with good values everywhere he’s become involved.

When asked if he thinks being a minority as an LDS student is a benefit, Jeff’s quick reply: “absolutely.” As the only member of the Church in his family, Jeff is used to seeing life from different perspectives. He loves the service aspect of student government, as well as the “time to reflect” in institute classes.

Jeff’s advice for students in creating their college experience: “Don’t be afraid to immerse yourself in education. First really get involved in your classes, but also through other people. Find out about them. Find people and places that are good for you, that will help you to grow, and jump in.”

Sidebar

I also asked Dr. Megan Sanborn Jones, Assistant Professor in the BYU Theatre and Media Arts Department, and my dear friend since we were Beehives together, her opinion on the best ways for students to get involved and find their own niche at college.

DSE: What are the best ways for students to get involved with activities and friends?
MSJ: BYU provides a wide variety of extra-curricular activities: service organizations, clubs, academic organizations, intramural sports, music and drama. Most of these are accessible simply by showing up. So pick something that interests you and show up. Also, great friends can be made in classes. Take all opportunities available to join study groups, participate in lab sections, or just work outside of class with classmates.

DSE: What are the best places to meet new friends?
MSJ: Where you live, Church, major classes, and extra-curricular activities.

DSE: How do you find activities where you will find compatible people?
MSJ: Part of the excitement of a university is the opportunity to meet a wide range of people. You may be surprised at who you will be compatible with so as you become involved with campus life, seek out new people to befriend. If you only interact with people whom you think you will like, you will miss out on some of the best friendships of your life.