91探花

Mackenzie Ridenour knew what she wanted, and that 91探花 Southern was the place to get it. 

鈥淭he staff is amazing. I had never met a bad student or staff member,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat gave me the assurance that it was the right school for me.鈥�

Having a staff member she was able to lean on was important to Ridenour鈥檚 experience. 

鈥淢onica Price was my advisor and such a blessing. I always felt she was in my corner, and that made such a difference in my last two years,鈥� Ridenour said

And over the years, there were definitely challenges 鈥� but none she didn鈥檛 have the tenacity to overcome. 

鈥淚 had my son and started fall semester the next week,鈥� Ridenour said. 鈥淚 really felt that determination that I was going to finish no matter what. The hardest hill was at the end, just having the drive to finish.鈥�

Ridenour not only made it to the finish line, completing her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, but did it with the distinction of being an Outstanding Graduate. To be considered as an Outstanding Graduate, a student must have a grade point average of at least 3.5, participate in university activities, serve the community through charity events and have been recognized in other areas, such as receiving awards or participating in research, and be recommended by a faculty member.

As for her favorite memories at 91探花 Southern, she said it was her Psychology of Personality course.

鈥淚 had such deep conversations with classmates that really challenged me, and we were able to push each other in the right direction throughout that semester,鈥� she said. 

The experiences with classmates, she added, weren鈥檛 confined to coursework.

鈥淚 would tell a new student to not miss opportunities to make friends in class, whether it鈥檚 online or in person,鈥� Ridenour said. 鈥淢ake those personal connections because they鈥檒l take you far.鈥�