As the semester reaches its final days, another class of Asburians is about to leave campus for the last time as students. With nearly 200 graduates in the Ignited class, graduating students are counting down the days until Saturday, May 3, when they will finally cross the stage in the George E. Luce Center gymnasium.
The four years – more or less for some – have flown by for many. One of the unique things about Asbury that has been consistently preached is the community aspect. For this graduating class, they have seen the full extent of that through four years of cookouts at the class advisors’ house, the Outpouring, class retreats and many formals. Even those who have graduated a full year or just a semester early still feel the community built by the Ignited class – a foreshadowing of the feeling most of them will still have years down the road.
“Part of what’s made Asbury so memorable is having a class identity with the Ignited class,” said Kayden Purvis, who graduated this past December. “I think one of my favorite memories with the Ignited class is probably Sophomore Retreat. I met a lot of new people and made a lot of new friendships on that trip, but I also got closer with people who I already knew. I just remember it being a really restful time.”
Purvis was actively involved on campus and in class cabinet before graduating, and as she works to complete her Masters degree at Asbury, can still be found frequenting the Hiccup and the Stuce porch with friends. The connections she made while on class cabinet as Treasurer for her junior year and only semester of senior year are still strong in her life.
“I loved being on cabinet,” Purvis reflects. “Taylor and Wes were the best leaders for us in those moments. I still go and hang out with the cabinet and Taylor and Wes, and give input on things and help plan things. I loved being on cabinet mainly because of Taylor.”
Taylor and Wes Collingsworth have been the class advisors for the Ignited class, praying for them for over four years and taking steps to walk alongside them as they moved through Asbury.
In the Ignited Class Senior Chapel on Wednesday, April 9, Taylor addressed the Ignited class, saying, “There are great yesses that you get to say in life. Yes to Jesus, yes to marrying your spouse and yes to following God’s calling on your life. Ignited class, you have been one of those great yesses for us. Our hope for you is that you will keep saying yes to Jesus and the abundant life that He has for you, yes to experiences that challenge you and stretch you, yes to community, yes to vulnerability and yes to accountability.”
Another constant face for the Ignited class has been Jerry Liu, who serves as Ignited class president this year, but served as class vice president his freshman and sophomore year.
“I just have a passion for our class,” Liu said. “I really enjoy having interactions with different class members and I think as a president, it has provided me with the opportunity to reach out to people and be conversational with them.”
As Liu thinks about his own time at Asbury, and looks toward the future, he shares this with the Ignited class, “I know it’s a tough time in the semester, especially for a lot of people with their anxiety, not knowing what’s going on. For me, there’s a lot of stress because I’m still figuring out details for the future. But before anything else, pray. Trust that God has a plan for us, and be flexible with what he might be putting in your life.”
Though a different class leaves Asbury each year, this year is marked by the Ignited class and their impact on campus.
Photo courtesy of AU Strat Comm.
