Sophomore Damaris Hernandez and junior Ezra Holt have two different stories and experiences at Taylor University, but they are both involved in one of Taylor’s student organizations: Student Activities Council, or SAC.
Getting to help put on events such as the President’s Ball, the Ice Cream Social, Finals Fuel-Up, MyGen and Nostalgia Night, both students have been able to learn and grow from their experiences.
Hernandez’s journey to Taylor began in her junior year of high school. Though she was enrolled in a different school at the beginning of her senior year, things fell into place in May of 2024 for her to be able to attend her first choice: Taylor University. She said she felt that the Lord continued to provide ways for her to be able to attend the university.
As she began to get involved on campus, Hernandez said her double-major in exercise science and business has been a pivotal part of her experience. Her love for fitness and dedication to business lends well to her interests.
“I love learning about movement and how the body works,” she said.“The science behind that is really cool to me.”
Her passions of working out, strength and conditioning and personal training are all avenues she hopes to continue to explore in the future. She hopes to work in strength and conditioning or open a gym in the future.
Hernandez’s involvement in SAC has roots in one of her visits to Taylor as a senior in high school. She stayed with senior Emmaline Farley, current 2025 president of SAC and a family-friend.
“I remember on my visit, she had all her posters of SAC events on her wall,” Hernandez said. “And I thought ‘oh, that is cool,’ but I did not really know what it was. And then, I got here, and I wanted to get involved somehow.”
With time on her hands in freshman year, Hernandez joined the team in December of her first semester.
She said she has learned about team building and collaborative working, and she has enjoyed working with different personalities than her own. It has also been rewarding to put ideas into action and to see the end result, she said.
Through her favorite events of Nostalgia night and MyGen, Hernandez enjoys seeing the talent of everyone on campus.
“In both MyGen and Nostalgia Night, I feel like a lot of our events do a really good job of showing the diversity across campus, and inclusion across campus instead of sticking to one specific genre or dorm or whatever that may be, but just showing inclusivity of everyone” she said.
Other ways Hernandez has stayed involved with campus include activity in her hall, Swallow Robin, and in a new organization, CHAARG at Taylor University. On and off campus, she develops community by taking walks and getting dinner with others, and playing guitar as a way to relax.
Holt was introduced to Taylor’s campus and culture through his mother, a 1997 Taylor graduate.
Originally, he was looking for a school where he could get a language degree in a Bachelor’s of Science. However, he is now a Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics major (PPE). After taking a J-term course in his freshman year called Completing Capitalism with Dr. Kerton-Johnson, Holt found a newfound excitement in his courses.
Holt is also involved in the ROTC program at Taylor. As a part of a rebuilding year for the chapter, he helped to establish the program. As a part of head leadership, he helps the group to run smoothly and professionally.
“We’ve done a lot of work,” he said. “more than would typically be expected of us in an ROTC program. At most other schools, the stuff we were doing last year you would do as a junior or a senior. So we were taking on a lot of responsibility to build up the program and make sure that it lasts.”
Holt’s first introduction to SAC came from senior Max Largent. After sending in his application, Holt was accepted to the team. He said he finds joy in all the fun events that their team gets to plan and the time they spend together during Wednesday meetings.
“It is always a positive environment,” he said. “It is a team from people all around campus, so you are seeing representation from everywhere. Just getting to know those people and building those relationships is really fun.
Organizationally, he also loves Nostalgia Night and MyGen. The process of auditions, discussing music acts, decorating and putting on the event has been formative to him, he said.
Over his time at Taylor, Holt said his involvement on campus has served to grow him in his reliance on the Lord. Serving as a Personnel Assistant (PA) in Wengatz Hall during his sophomore year, participating in SAC, serving in leadership for ROTC for the full school year and more, he said he learned to see every moment as intentional.
This year, he said he has had the opportunity to grow in relationships with other men on his wing, Third East Wengatz, and spend time with his fiancé, Taylor Junior, Anna Bassett. Getting to slow down as a part of his junior year and take time with the people around him has been rewarding, he said.
“This year has been simpler with not as many moving parts,” Holt said. “I feel like I get to have fun with SAC. I had a lot of friendships and relationships last year, but this year I am able to have deeper ones. I am able to actually take time with people and pause and not schedule my time out everywhere.”
