“PCC’s English classes were especially beneficial to me in law school, and in particular Advanced Grammar, where I learned how to summarize information concisely and accurately. This skill became the one I relied on the most during law school, and I was always grateful that my teacher had the wisdom not only to teach it, but also to teach it so thoroughly. He knew, where I did not, that this would be a valuable skill for any graduate work, and especially valuable in the field of law.

As a result of my training at PCC, I was able to perform well in Legal Writing classes, as the following story illustrates:

As a first-year law student, I was assigned to read a case and write a brief. I did my best and used every skill taught by the PCC English professors.

When I met with my professor, he looked through his file of briefs to find mine. He pulled it out and said excitedly, ‘You’re the one! You’re the one!! Where did you learn to write?’

I replied, ‘Pensacola Christian College. Why do you ask?’

His answer stunned me: ‘I had to ask. We have never seen writing skills this strong in a first-year law student, so we wanted to know where you learned to write!’

I have always treasured the training that the entire PCC English department provided.

I also treasured the speech classes at PCC. The speech faculty prepared me for giving various presentations in law school, for which I am deeply grateful.”

“I truly appreciate PCC’s desire to train students to be well-rounded, quality people. The overall training of the mind and soul to think about all facets of a situation, and to act and react to life in appropriate and godly ways, has helped me strive to be an attorney who practices with grace and dignity as well as with intelligence.

“The writing and speech classes were the best preparation for law school. The tax and accounting courses were also incredibly useful; having knowledge of tax and accounting has been great for my practice.”

“PCC did a great job of preparing me for law school through the class schedule I was required to take. In particular, the speech classes helped me get used to speaking, which I had to do a lot of in law school.”

“I’m leading the Nissan North America Material Challenge/Budomari Activity. This is a cost reduction activity that involves several different functions (Engineering, Manufacturing, Suppliers, etc.) while seeking to identify better ways of utilizing material, reducing scrap, along with other things. It also crosses national boundaries because I get to work with people from Japan and Mexico on these projects.

“My PCC prelaw degree helped me develop the skills necessary to develop contracts. It also helped prepare me to prepare and give presentations in a short period of time.

“My favorite undergraduate class was World History Since 1900 with Dr. Kurt Grussendorf. He was able to bring history alive by making it more than just facts and dates. Instead he showed how different technologies and events helped shape the people that would later follow Adolf Hitler or fight him. It helped show me that even the tiny details can have a huge impact on a generation’s viewpoint.”

When Jordan Henry (Jr., MO) began working at a small Christian radio station in his hometown six years ago, he enjoyed doing everything from hosting live radio shows to sticking number labels onto CD cases. But he never dreamed where that work experience would lead him. “Last year, in the summer of 2014, I was at the radio station doing some work when the Phyllis Schlafly Report came on,” said Jordan. “At the end, Mrs. Schlafly talked about a summit that Eagle Forum hosts for college students every year in Washington, D.C.”

Jordan applied and was accepted to the summit on a scholarship. After attending the forum, Jordan “fell in love with Eagle Forum’s rich history of standing up for conservative, Christian values,” he said. An internship with the Phyllis Schlafly Eagle Forum was ideal for this prelaw major.

Right away, Jordan felt at home as an Eagle Forum intern. “It was a friendly place with friendly people who helped me to strengthen the areas where I am weak and then grow in the areas where I am already strong,” he said. Jordan could hardly believe how involved he could be as just an intern.

He was working side by side with top writers and political analysts, speaking with Phyllis Schlafly herself, and actually helping to influence public policy. During his internship, he communicated with Eagle Forum leaders in all fifty states, contributed on the Phyllis Schlafly Report radio program, and served as editor-in-chief for the Eagle Forum Collegians blog.

Jordan believes his college preparation played a large part in why he felt so prepared for the internship. “English classes at PCC gave me foundational writing skills that helped me write eloquently, effectively, and concisely,” he said. “History of Civilization and American History gave me a proper framework in which to put my political positions,” he added. “Bible class and chapel helped me to build a Christian foundation for my political beliefs and for how I interacted with other people.” Chuckling, he admitted, “Even the dress code helped me prepare to dress for success in a professional setting.”

Apparently all of that preparation did pay off—Jordan was asked to return to St. Louis in September to help host the Eagle Council, an Eagle Forum annual convention. Usually, the convention brings in outstanding guest speakers and political experts, but with the presidential race right around the corner, this Council was different. The event featured six presidential candidates who were running at the time: Dr. Ben Carson, Governor Rick Perry, Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Rick Santorum, Senator Ted Cruz, and Senator Rand Paul.

One of Jordan’s roles at the event was to personally escort Dr. Carson and Governor Huckabee. “Here I was,” said Jordan, “acting as the personal escort for people who could be the next president, shaking their hands and conversing with them backstage.”

Although Jordan doesn’t know what his future holds concerning politics, he feels blessed to have been able to join Eagle Forum, working to keep America the land of the free.

When Lori Antkoviak (’00) began her college career at PCC, she knew what she was working toward—her pre-law degree, starting her journey toward becoming a litigation attorney or prosecutor.

Four years later, Lori’s next step took her to the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan to earn a juris doctor. “The English and grammar classes along with the business law practice of writing legal briefs provided the basics of legal writing,” she said. “Because of the practice and variety of classes [at PCC], I felt better prepared than many other law school students that had only majored in political science or history.”

During her second year, Lori was on the school’s mock trial travel team, and in her final year she was a finalist in the Moot Court Competition. Subsequently, she was asked to join the school’s Moot Court team, but she turned it down, knowing she was ready to move on. After graduating Cum Laude in just 2 1/2 years, Lori took the bar exam. She scored over 150 on multi-state bar exams, something only a few are able to accomplish. “Since I had never done well on a standardized test before, I felt that this was the Lord showing me that this was clearly His direction for me.”

After having served as a law clerk on the 48th Circuit court, Lori practiced law in a firm along with her husband for three years, primarily in criminal defense, child abuse and neglect, and family and estate areas, before taking the position of Executive Director of Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center for Allegan and Barry Counties in Michigan. “We work closely with the Prosecuting Attorney, Child Protective Services, and law enforcement,” she explained.

The Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) help children who have allegations of sexual or severe physical abuse. In Michigan’s April 2018 Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation, it’s estimated that 1,540 children die each year from child abuse and neglect. These centers give abused children a neutral, safe environment to share their story through a forensic interview which uses open-ended questions to help a child share the abuse they may have endured.

“Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center is the only private agency providing a safe environment for children to share their stories and to begin their healing journey,” Lori said.

Since having been Executive Director of Safe Harbor for eleven years, the nonprofit agency has recovered from struggling financially and has operated more smoothly. Lori was instrumental in managing the centers, improving their fiscal health and increasing their financial reserves. The improvements also helped to grow their staff by 25 percent. Safe Harbor has even opened a satellite CAC program to serve the neighboring county.

Lori continues to serve at Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center, “providing a lifeline to victims of child abuse and neglect” in Michigan.

“There is a great need for more Christian judges who are willing to do the right thing regardless of public opinion or selfish desires,” said Judge April C. Wood. “Perhaps the most important aspect of my decision [to become a judge] was the need for more Christian judges.”

While growing up, April was certain she would become a tough lawyer like the ones she saw on television. To help April reach that goal, her father routinely engaged her in debates that developed April’s ability to defend her position on an issue. As she grew older, April used the Abeka Academy video program for 10th grade, which strengthened her desire to attend Pensacola Christian College and major in Prelaw.

“The history classes at PCC built upon my strong Christian foundation and belief that our nation was founded on Christian principles,” April said. “The professors at PCC were able to show how the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are rooted in a Christian perspective of the nature of government and the nature of man. This helped me to understand common law and its development as well as its codification.

“What I appreciate most about my education at PCC is that several of my professors had a legal or criminal justice background. I found the experiences that they shared to be informative, interesting, and sometimes entertaining. Their life experiences provided some of the most useful information, and I still think about some of those stories when I am contemplating a decision.

“Without a doubt, the speech requirements at PCC were extremely beneficial to me. I used to be anxious about public speaking, but the speech classes helped me overcome my anxiety. The speech classes taught me how to use vocal inflections, pauses, and facial expressions to persuade and to get my point across to my listeners. The debate class certainly helped to prepare me for debate and trial practice classes at law school.”

Prior to being elected to district court, April earned a Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law, and began her own private law practice. “Once I started practicing law, it did not take me long to learn that I did not enjoy criminal law. God revealed to me that family law is where I could make the biggest impact on people for His glory. That is the area of law where most of the hurting and lost people are, and that is where I could help people the most by being a shining light for Christ. I knew that I would have much more influence as a judge than I did as a lawyer, since district court has original and exclusive jurisdiction over all family law issues. I love my job, and I am a happy person because I was willing to be flexible. Had I not followed the path God led me down, I doubt that I would be a district court judge.

“Perhaps one day I will seek other positions or paths, but I believe that I am where the Lord wants me at this time. The most important lesson that I have learned as a judge is that I do not always have all the answers to every problem. That is one of the reasons that I ask God daily to give me the wisdom to make the right decisions. I continue to seek His guidance and wisdom each day.”