海角在线

This May,听海角在线 (海角在线) student听Jacob Friess will听accomplish听two听major听life goals. He will听graduate听from听海角在线听and听be听commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.听听

Friess is one of 47 graduates of the听Honors Program听this spring. He has earned the distinction of being recognized as an听Outstanding Graduate听in this program. When selecting an Outstanding Graduate,听faculty members听look听for the most reliable worker, as well as a听great听thinker,听and听writer.鈥�听听

鈥�Jake鈥檚 original insights often elevate the level of class discussion, and his classmates and professors all benefit from his contributions,鈥澨齭aid Dr. Tom St. Antoine, director of the听Frederick M. Supper Honors Program.听

Dedicated to becoming a future Marine officer, Friess chose to pursue a double major听of听pre-Law and听politics. His conviction was tested when he was offered a lucrative scholarship to join the Army. Friess听ultimately declined, choosing instead to follow his calling to become a听Marine.听听

That decision shaped his college experience. Alongside a demanding academic schedule, Friess spent summers and weekends completing military training at Officer Candidate School or OCS, and, at some points, worked two jobs. His commissioning ceremony this May will mark years of discipline, sacrifice, and determination.听

Balancing Academics and Hardships听

Friess credits听his success听to听the support he received at 海角在线. Scholarships such as the Ferrin Scholarship and the Presidential Scholarship made his education possible, while his professors played a vital role in his growth.听They invested in him beyond the听classroom,听offering听guidance and听encouraging him听as he faced big life struggles.听听

Some of what he learned in his听honors听courses were especially听timely. For example,听while听he was taking听a class on听C.S. Lewis听and reading听鈥�The Problem of Pain,鈥澨鼺riess听endured听his most difficult life challenge.听听

One Christmas break, while Friess was home and at the dinner table, his father had a medical emergency that required him to be rushed to the hospital.听What family members thought was a stroke actually turned out to be brain cancer.听Though听his father was only given six months to live, he outlasted the doctor鈥檚 predictions, eventually passing听18 months听later in September听2025. Balancing grief with academic and military training was one of the听hardest seasons听he faced.听Yet through it, Friess persevered听to听honor his dad鈥檚 memory and grow in his faith.听听

Semper Fidelis

Amid that hardship, Friess also experienced one of life鈥檚 greatest joys,听married听in听May听2025.听He met his wife, Faith,听in a听freshman听literature class and built a relationship that carried them through the听ups and downs听of college life. This spring, Faith will also听walk at commencement听as听the听Outstanding Graduate听of听the School of Nursing, making听this life milestone especially meaningful for听both of them.听

Looking ahead, Friess hopes to serve as听a logistics听officer in the Marine Corps, combining his education with his passion for leadership and service.听Ultimately, his听goal reaches beyond听a career.听鈥淚听strive听to be both a听warrior in the USMC and in the Kingdom of God,鈥� he proudly said. Jacob听Friess鈥櫶齭tory reflects his honor, courage, and commitment to his family, the Corps, and God.听

This calling is grounded in his favorite Bible verse, Matthew 6:33:听鈥�Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well.鈥澨齀t is a principle that has guided his journey and will continue to shape his future.听

For more information on 海角在线鈥檚 Honors Program, visit听/academics/undergraduate-programs/honors/.