Committed to Excellence

By Mark and Carolyn Behrendt

Without ever planning it, my wife and I are three-for-three in sending our children to Presbyterian colleges. The common denominator, we realize now, is excellence.

The Behrendts at Ben Behrendt’s graduation, (from left to right) Will, Joe, Ben, and Laura. Photo courtesy of the Behrendts.

Our son Will enrolled at The College of Wooster in 2002, barely aware of Wooster’s unique Independent Study (IS) program. When he graduated in 2006 his IS project was a 100 page study of American foreign intelligence since World War II, and he was directed in his study by a faculty member working one-on-one with him. After a year living and working in New York City, he will be attending law school this fall.

Our daughter Laura will be a junior this fall at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. She was drawn to the college by the assurance of an internship and study abroad before graduation. She will be studying at the Centre in Strasbourg program next spring.

Our son Ben graduated from high school in May and is a freshman at Davidson College in North Carolina. Davidson’s Honor Code, Western Civilization curriculum, and commitment to service leadership are features of campus life that please use and promise to shape Ben. And the prospect of playing Division I football was what sold Ben on Davidson.

What characterizes each college is a commitment to excellence, displayed in various areas—academics, co-curriculars, and athletics. We know that the colleges’ Presbyterian heritage insures a solid foundation for our children’s future lives.

Our youngest child is Joe, a high school sophomore this fall. He will be free to choose his own college, but we hope he shows the good sense of this brothers and sister and chooses a Presbyterian college!

Carolyn Behrendt is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Dennison, Ohio and Lima Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, Ohio.

Mark Behrendt is the pastor of Walnut Creek (UCC) Church of Walnut Creek, OH.

Laura and Ben Behrendt are current recipients of the National Presbyterian College Scholarship.