Spotlight on...

Chap and Chapling recruiters!

The Admissions department plays a vital roll in each of the current and future Chaps decision of choosing LCU. From years of contact prior college to celebrating all of life's moments the Admissions counselors are a part of every student's story.


Before students even think of applying for college, ever visit campus, move in, or attend class, the Admissions team is sharing the LCU story. As students go through the process of selecting, applying, and getting into college, their assigned LCU admissions counselor is there every step of the way.   

Most members of the Admissions team are LCU alumni, and the few that aren’t have had a family member attend LCU. A love for LCU and “being a part of continuing the LCU story,” as Lauren Braham stated, is what motivates the counselors.

Admissions is in contact with students long before they become a Chap.  Students receive contact as early as their sophomore year in high school, and as time goes along they receive other printed pieces, personal emails, phone calls, notes, and text messages. Counselors routinely send Christmas and birthday cards to every perspective student in their recruiting area.  They also send a congratulatory card when a recruit graduates from high school.

Each admissions counselor has a specific geographic area or applicant type they are responsible for recruiting.  Shelley Parnell builds relationships with international student applicants and is the early contact for high school freshman and sophomores.  Samantha Turley is new to the team and will be recruiting high school juniors.  Adelle Davis and Janey Bibb work at recruiting transfer students. The rest of the team -- Jennifer Anderson, Tim Day, Blake McNeill, Brett Morte, Lauren Branum, and Adam Goodnight -- recruits college-bound high school seniors.  The support team for Admissions is Charlie Webb, Jim Foster, LaShell Camper, and Rhonda Pool.

Student leads come from a variety of sources.  Admissions counselors attend college fairs, youth rallies, and large church-based events such as Winter Fest and Leadership Training for Christ.  They also visit high schools and two-year colleges to build relationships with guidance counselors and students in those settings.  Additionally, they make contacts through helping with youth camps on the LCU campus.   At Encounter along with the “blue” drink station, they host a dinner for high school senior campers and a special event for those that have already signed as incoming LCU freshmen.  “True Blue” events are also hosted in different cities and venues, teaming with Alumni Relations. 

Once a student applies their counselor guides them through the necessary steps for official admittance.  Once admitted, contact is made with the appropriate faculty member to set up an advising appointment.  The admissions counselors do this for each student, while still recruiting other students.  With personal, family, and financial issues effecting college attendance, a student’s admissions counselor can become a guide and a sounding board for anything the student needs.

“I have been working with a student who suffers from several [physical issues],” said Janey Bibb.  “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her to get her through the admission process and registered for fall classes. She is so excited to continue her education at LCU, and I’m so happy to have been able to help her.” 

Many of the counselors have heart-warming stories that serve as an example of why they love what they do. Jennifer Wilson has a student enrolled for fall classes who had never heard of LCU but by chance stopped at the LCU table at a college fair, and now he is sure LCU is the place for him. Many high schools host a signing day for students going to college, so counselors are now getting to celebrate with their students the day they “officially” commit to coming to LCU.

A student’s connection with their admission counselor doesn’t end when the student begins college at LCU.  Through all of their achievements at LCU and beyond, students continue to share their lives with their counselors.

“One of the most challenging, yet rewarding, aspects of being the international student advisor is working with the students for the entire time they are here,” Shelley Parnell stated. “I have the privilege to see first-hand how LCU has changed their lives.”

Occasionally a prospective student just shows up on campus and assimilates into LCU.  Most often, a student has received a lot of personal contact and genuine care during their process of becoming a Chap, which was extended to them from those who work in Admissions, as well as others on campus.

A great source of prospective student leads are LCU staff, faculty, and alumni talking to high school students about LCU and passing along that student’s information to the Admissions Office. 

“We take and have received contacts a lot of ways,” laughs Rhonda Pool.  “I’ve accepted grocery receipts with a name and contact number scribbled on it, emails, calls – once I get that information I funnel it to the counselor that covers that region.” 

We are all ambassadors for Lubbock Christian University, so when you are out and about, share your LCU story! You never know when you might be planting a seed and helping someone else down the path to being an LCU Chap.