When a Doylestown, Ohio, native was looking for the college that would be her best fit, she was certain about two things. She knew that she wanted to major in communication disorders, and she knew that she wanted to attend a Christian college. Only two schools east of the Mississippi River fit her criteria.

Kacie Moore knew a couple people from her Christian high school who attended Geneva College. She scheduled a campus visit. When she arrived, she not only found a college that matched her standards, but also found a caring academic community that impressed her with the close relationships students enjoyed with their teachers.

“The professors at Geneva treat their job as a calling, not an occupation, which really stands out,” notes Kacie. “And it’s great because that is what they teach us to do. On countless occasions I have seen the love of Jesus Christ through the faculty and staff at Geneva.…The love expressed on Geneva’s campus sets us apart from other Christian schools.” Communication disorders professors Dr. Elaine Hockenberger and Susan Layton serve as academic advisors for Kacie, and they encourage her spiritually as well. She particularly remembers a class that always opened with a study of Elisabeth Elliot’s A Path through Suffering.

As she mastered the International Phonetic Alphabet, used to represent the sounds in any speech or language, Kacie appreciated the personal attention and many opportunities for hands-on practice. There are 16 students majoring in communication disorders in the same year as Kacie, and she benefited by being able to take tough courses like phonetics with just a few classmates. “I love just getting poured into,” explains Kacie.

Wise counselors and spiritual support are not limited to Geneva’s faculty and staff. Kacie has also found mentors from the members of College Hill RPC, where she attends weekly worship. Through that congregation, she participates in a Discipleship, Accountability, and Service on the Hill (DASH) group, which includes a few other Geneva students as well as a mentor from the congregation.

Kacie became a member of College Hill RPC in spring, drawn by the depth of teaching and the amount of Scripture used in worship and fellowship. “Even though I will only be at Geneva a short time, I believe church membership is important. It gives me a home to use my service for the kingdom.” Kacie also notes, “The people were welcoming and friendly.”

Kacie is president of Geneva’s chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA). In this role, Kacie planned events for the club with her team of board members. She received 2015 Member Honors. Of the approximately 13,000 members at more than 300 chapters, last year only 52 students received NSSLHA Member Honors. NSSLHA honors “are awarded on the basis of scholastic achievement, service to the academic unit, professional conduct, and service to NSSHLA.”

As part of a distinctly Christian college, Geneva’s NSSLHA chapter has a different flavor than other chapters, as members participate in mentoring activities like a Big Sister Little Sister, and volunteer their services at Tiger Pause, a Christian afterschool ministry.

“As you can see, many new and exciting things have happened with our chapter since Kacie took a leadership role,” said Dr. Hockenberger, Moore’s academic advisor and honor nominee. “She has been instrumental in the success of Geneva’s chapter of the NSSHLA for this academic year.”

Kacie’s recognition included a certificate of honor from the National Office, a NSSLHA Honor Cord, complimentary registration to attend the ASHA Convention, and acknowledgment at the NSSLHA Honors ceremony and in NSSLHA communications.

As a student ambassador for Geneva’s admissions department, Kacie hosts visiting students and showcases the campus through tours. She loves fall on campus when the leaves change colors, and she treasures opportunities to play pickup volleyball on both the sand court and in the gym. Kacie plays varsity volleyball, too. One of Kacie’s favorite memories is visiting Pittsburgh with friends for Light Up Night. Some of her closest friends are fellow honors students who lived on her floor freshman year.

Kacie just completed Geneva’s Young Scholars Program, the second-year honors program. She looks forward to graduating in just three years through creative scheduling and hard work. Kacie then plans to earn a master’s degree in pediatric voice disorders so that she can work with adopted international children.

“I’ve always loved kids and orphans,” says Kacie. After serving in the Pittsburgh Project in 2010 and in the Dominican Republic in 2012, Kacie confirmed her passion for improving the lives of young people by giving them the help they need. The personal attention, hands-on experience, and encouragement from friends, staff, and faculty at Geneva College has prepared Kacie to make this passion a reality.

Author Holly Vizino graduated with a degree in communication from Geneva College in May and works as a freelance writer for the college. Co-author Caleb McCracken is a communication major at Geneva and an intern at the college’s department of public relations and marketing. He is a member of Columbus, Ind., RPC.