Jon Stephens is a senior double majoring in music performance and religion from Danville. Stephens is involved in Christian Student Fellowship, a student ambassador, a resident assistant, orientation leader and member of the Averett University Cougar Band.

How do you believe Averett will help you with your degree?

In the long run, I want to teach music. Averett has allowed me to have special courses to study areas I need for the future. They will not only help me with my future career, but Averett has helped me gain leadership skills I will need in my career and in graduate school. What I have learned here will help with whatever lies beyond graduation.

What do you like best about the University?

I like that it’s in my hometown, which means I didn’t have to learn an entirely new space. I also like that it’s a small campus environment where to me, that has allowed me to gain more friendships and relationships with professors that I may not have gotten from a large campus environment.

Why did you choose your path of study?

Ever since my senior year of high school, I’ve known I wanted to be involved in music in some way. Having great mentors in high school and college, I knew I wanted to be in music education. I never saw myself being a religion major, but it has helped me to learn more about spirituality, and it has helped me grow as a person. It was for me a smart decision to double major.