Greenville College Annual Report 2001-02

Campus Profiles

Greenville College Community Cultivates Student Excellence

Family is very important to Vanilda Reyes, a 20-year old junior at Greenville College. Her father, Jose, an FM pastor, and her mother, Vanessa, a florist, raised Reyes and her three siblings, Jose jr. (23) and twins Delia and Wesley (15), as a close-knit family. She also had a large extended family in the church where her father pastors: Iglesia Nueva Vida (New Life Church) – a Free Methodist Church in Cleveland, OH.

When it came time for Reyes to choose a college, a feeling of family was, of course, very important to her. She chose Greenville College largely due to the “friendly and small family atmosphere” she felt during a preview weekend.
Reyes declared a Psychology major her freshman year but has since added a Social Work major and an English minor. She truly appreciates the kind of education Greenville provides. “The biggest contribution to my academic life has been how much my professors have cared about my learning. I really enjoy the fact that I am a person to them and not a number as I might have been at a bigger college.”

Following her education at GC, Reyes plans to earn a masters degree in Social Work and then go where God leads. “My time at GC has helped me focus on the things God would have me do with rest of my life,” she says.  “I really feel God’s lead into a ministry working with people, whether through Social Work or a church or some other avenue.”  

Edwin Estevez, professor of Sociology and Social Work, claims Reyes is a great student because of her “diligent search of truth and knowledge” not only academically but spiritually as well. “The spiritual emphasis at the school has increased my faith and expanded my view of God,” says Reyes. “I believe that the biggest contribution to my spiritual development has been the ability to talk about my faith so freely.  I went to a public high school so being able to talk about God with people who understand what I’m talking about is a real comfort.” At the same time, the challenge to clearly state and defend her beliefs while considering the new ideals presented provided a great opportunity for growth.

From her very first semester on campus, Reyes also jumped into a wide variety of extra-curricular activities. She has been actively involved in Mosaic, Sociology Club, Campus Activities Board, E-Café and Crossroads. She was also a resident counselor. I have learned so many different lessons through these groups,” she says, “because they are very different from each other.”

Reyes is quick to tell anyone what Greenville has done for her but slow to mention all she has contributed to the community. “Vanilda has a very caring spirit,” says Jessica Estevez, director of Multicultural and Cross-cultural Programs. “She is a servant leader but very approachable which enables her to make many feel comfortable.” Norm Hall, dean of students, adds, “Vanilda has a unique quality of being able to brighten up a room with conversation and cheer while maintaining an admirable sense of humility.” “She has what in Spanish we sometimes can call ’chispa’ (spark),” declares Estevez. 

During her four years at Greenville College, “Vanilda has integrated all possible resources within the institution as her vehicles for success,” Professor Edwin Estevez summarizes. Vanilda recognizes the relationships she’s building and the know-ledge she is gaining will last her a lifetime.

Last updated: January 16, 2003