Andrew Paquette Named to President's Club

2014 Oct 29

In the University's chapel service today, Steve Pettit, president of Bob Jones University, awarded Andrew Paquette, a senior Accounting major from Travelers Rest, South Carolina, the Partner Award.

One of six President's Club awards, the Partner Award is given to a student who has shown himself to be a partner with BJU in the cause of training young people to serve the Lord by promoting or contributing to its programs in a self-sacrificing way.

Andrew was nominated by a fellow student for his ongoing ministry as a student participating in the mission of BJU. The student wrote, "I remember the first time I met Andrew as he worked to set my Macbook up to BJU's Internet system. He was extremely kind, patient, and certainly one of the most down to earth students I had ever met. As he questioned my choice of major and various activities I was getting involved in as a new student, he challenged me to make time in my schedule for freshman choir. I had no previous intentions of auditioning or joining, but Andrew insisted that choir under Dr. Yanson's leadership had been one of the most phenomenal experiences of his life. And so, impacted with the passion with which he spoke, I took his advice and can never thank him enough for it!

It was almost a year before our paths crossed again, this time in Mathematics of Finance as classmates under Dr. Guthrie. The class was one of the most challenging yet rewarding classes I have taken in my entire undergraduate degree here, and I know that Andrew helped to make it so. There were afternoons when my friend and I were confused and unable to make sense of certain problems, and Andrew would take time out of his incredibly packed accounting schedule to meet with us.

Andrew has consistently encouraged me and others to praise God for this last year and final opportunity to learn under various professors, challenging us each to continue in our pursuit of excellence and to bring Christ glory all along the way. So many times we students collaborate in our misery rather than build each other up in efforts to one day cross that finish line into eternity saying truly, 'I have not run in vain neither labored in vain' (Phil 2:16). Andrew dedicated his college career here to partnering with BJU's mission--"Build Faith. Challenge Potential. Follow Christ." I only hope and pray that as I leave the University and enter the workforce after graduation, I would seek to mentor others beside me and carry a testimony that shines brightly for Christ as Andrew has."

Students are nominated for President's Club awards by faculty, staff and their peers, and a committee selects recipients from the nominations received. In addition to recognition in a President's Club chapel, recipients have their photo displayed in the university Student Center and enjoy dinner with the President.