What I ended up with was genuine peace.” This was how James Samreny (class of 2005) felt after choosing Geneva College. James and his wife, Rachel (Cypher) Samreny ’06, both members of Grace (Gibsonia, Pa.) RPC, are Geneva alumni. Although their journeys were different, they had one thing in common: they were legacy students, meaning one or more of their parents or close relatives attended Geneva.

Football was at the front of James’ mind when looking for a college. He admits he did not have the wisest approach initially and was not particularly excited when thinking about Geneva. As he searched, James felt called to Geneva.

“The Lord really stirred up a healthy discontent with the other schools I was looking at. I didn’t really know what I wanted until I stepped into Geneva.”

James describes making his decision in the eleventh hour. Although his dad was a graduate of the college, James had surprisingly few interactions with Geneva.

“On those few interactions alone, I got the sense my spiritual well-being was going to be accounted for and it was going to be a healthy place for me to spend the next four years.”

Similarly, Rachel did not initially have an affinity toward Geneva. Her mom and sister were Geneva graduates, and Rachel longed for an experience different from the stories she was all too familiar with in her early years. Like most college students, Rachel sought her own path and wanted to discover her individual purpose and place.

“I went to Geneva on an overnight visit and stayed in the dorms with some of the students and friends that I knew there. It really felt like what I imagined my college life would be like. I could see what I would do there. I went to an activity on campus that night with them, and it made all the difference.”

It is not uncommon for students who come from legacy families to be hesitant to follow in their parents’ or grandparents’ footsteps. James and Rachel both felt this strongly but made the decision to attend Geneva after experiencing campus and seeing how Geneva could fit into their lives.

“We often stand in awe thinking back about Geneva, thinking that 20 years ago James was standing here wanting to play football, get it over with, and get out. And now to think of the tremendous impact Geneva has had on us throughout our lives and how God has worked out so much, with Geneva connected all along the way.”

James describes how often we, as students, do not realize the foundation a Geneva education is building. “I did not realize the impact it had on me until I left. You are taking the biblical worldview applied in the classroom and putting it into practice in the business world and raising a family. The reality and foundation of that worldview grows legs and develops. The things you learn in theory and in the classroom, as you get older, you realize that your worldview is at play. It is not just what you are doing; it is who you are. Geneva is spending a lot of time teaching that it is not just what you do or how successful you are, but it is who you are that matters. The return at Geneva College is not just the job you find or money you make; it is so much more than that.”

Rachel and James encourage students to see the value in the education they are getting now. An investment in a Geneva education is one that does not lose value but that continues to bear fruit for the rest of your life.

Legacy students at Geneva play an important role at the college and in their families. While many students, like Rachel and James, may begin their journeys with hesitation, they look back to see just how special it is to be a legacy student.

“We love that there is a legacy in our family at Geneva. Legacy is not getting stuck in a rut. We want our children to walk the path we are walking. We want them to stand on our shoulders and follow Christ further. We want them to do more. When a legacy is done properly, you are giving future generations the opportunity to work for the kingdom in a greater way. A Geneva education carries you across the finish line, and legacy students are able to build on the foundation of their parents and carry it even further.”

Geneva has a large network of alumni, many of whom stay engaged with the college in different ways throughout their lives. The Samrenys have now opened a new branch of their restaurant, The Oven Pizza Co., intentionally close to campus to further their relationship.

“We are so excited about Geneva and the direction the college is going. I would encourage all alumni to get involved: spiritually, financially, or relationally. It doesn’t only have to be donating.”

In the fall of 2022, Geneva launched Legacy Link, a way for Geneva alumni to involve their children and grandchildren in the college and its mission. Legacy Link allows alumni to register their children or grandchildren to receive special communication and merchandise from the college on major milestones throughout their life, from birth through high school graduation.

“We love the idea of this program! We are definitely signing our kids up for Legacy Link and will be so proud if they choose to attend Geneva one day to take our legacy and impact even further,” say the Samrenys.

Fifty percent of Geneva’s most recent incoming class were legacy students, or students referred by alumni of the college. Geneva is excited about this growth and the continually expanding opportunities to further our ministry and reach more students.