BUIES CREEK, North Carolina — The Rock Family of Mertztown, Pennsylvania, is the 2016 Campbell University Family of the Year.
The Family of the Year is an annual tradition at Campbell that acknowledges the important role that families play in the education of their students throughout their college career. The Rock Family was acknowledged during halftime at the Family Weekend football game on Sept. 24.
“I chose to nominate my family for Family of the Year because my family truly loves everything about Campbell,” said Rachel Rock, a senior communications major. “My parents have been so supportive through my brother and I’s time at Campbell and they deserve to be recognized for all that they have done for both of us.”
Steve and Nancy, Rachel’s parents, serve on the Campbell University Parents Council where they are active in facilitating communication between the University and parents and families as well as introducing new students and their parents to the University.
Derek, Rachel’s brother, is a 2015 graduate of the music education program. He is a band teacher at Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove, Georgia.
Since the Rock family is spread out across the country, their recognition at Family Weekend was even more special because they are rarely all in one place at the same time.
“It meant a lot to me to have my whole family here this weekend,” said Rachel. “It is not often that we can all be together, so it is really exciting that I was able to spend some quality time with them.”
Rachel’s nomination essay can be read in its entirety below.
Family of the Year
From our small town in Pennsylvania all the way to Buies Creek, my family has a special place in our hearts for our Campbell camels. As a senior, I have seen my family’s love and support for my Campbell journey grow with each passing day. My family encourages me everyday to enjoy Campbell while I can and to make lasting memories while I am here. With all of their support, I know that my family loves the camels as much as I do.
My family’s Campbell journey began when my brother, Derek, a 2015 music education graduate, started his freshman year in Buies Creek. Starting at orientation, I fell in love with the family atmosphere, the beautiful campus, and the spirited environment. Still two years away from my freshman year, I already found a home at Campbell.
During his time here, my brother did not have a shortness of school spirit. He played saxophone in the pep band and, by the time he was a senior, was the conductor of the stadium band at football games. He also performed and soloed multiple times at the annual Christmas at Campbell event. After graduating with a music education degree, Derek was offered and accepted a job at Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove, Georgia as a band teacher. Because of his education at Campbell, he started his first year working in a dream job. He was able to make an easy transition into the classroom there because of both the practical training he gained at Campbell and the Christian foundations that he learned during his time here.
My parents, while they never attended Campbell, probably love the school more than my brother and I combined. They are both members of the parent’s council where they share their experiences as Campbell parents with future camel parents. They have spoken at orientation and help other parents make the transition to having a student attend Campbell. Their enthusiasm for the school is not in short supply and I know that they will continue to love it long after I graduate.
Since I have been at Campbell, my family has encouraged me to take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to me. I have definitely followed this advice and do what I can to share my love of Campbell with other students, both current and future. I am a Freshman Seminar Peer Mentor with the First Year Experience office, working to ease new students into life in the creek. I am also an Admissions Ambassador, giving tours to future Campbell families and working to help prospective student see the home that I saw when I first set foot on campus.
My family and I have had a lot of fun at Campbell and have made a lot of Campbell memories through the years. Since my brother and I were not able to go home often, my parents found time to come down and visit. They attended football games, parents weekends, graduation, and as many weekend trips as they could afford because they wanted to be at Campbell as much as we did. My whole family also always made our love of Campbell clear to everyone around us. One year, we even took our Christmas card picture in front of the Gaylord statue and dressed him.
My parent’s endless support for both my brother and my educations has been nothing short of incredible. During the stress of finals and the excitements of new opportunities, my parents have been the first to help us through it all. They have taught us to cherish the time in college and make the most out of it. Both my brother and I have gotten so many amazing opportunities through Campbell and because of Campbell, which our parents supported throughout the entire process.
Being so far away, many people from home have never heard of Campbell, but we still proudly wear our orange and black and wave a Campbell flag outside of our house. My brother and I are often asked why we chose to go over eight hours away from home when there are plenty of good schools much closer. While this may be true, there is not another Campbell anywhere in the world. Campbell is more than a school and what we have both gotten out of it is more than an education. We have gained a family and a home that will last long after graduation day. My family is a Campbell family through and through. We love everything this school has offered us and we continue to love the community each and every day.
Campbell is more than just a school and my brother and I are getting more than just a degree. Campbell is a family and my family is, and will always be, a Campbell family.
– By: Rachel Rock