Kurt Brown’s ’25 identity is deeply rooted in his faith, so it was important to him to attend a faith-based institution like Valpo. He says, “My faith defines who I am as an individual. My identity as a redeemed child of God is the basis for who I am and how I live my life. It is the first and most important thing about me. I wanted to go to an environment where faith is valued and strengthened. Since I think it is the most important thing, attending a university where faith is seen as something ancillary at best would be odd.” Brown continues, “My faith has played an important role in keeping me steady. Sometimes, it can be hard to be motivated and discern one’s purpose in the world. With my faith at the core of my life, I have something constant to refer back to.”
Brown serves at the Chapel each week not only because his faith is so vital to his life but also because he finds joy in the service of others. He says, “I have definitely experienced through my time at Valpo that simply going to services and worshiping regularly is so helpful to my life of faith. It’s also enjoyable. I kind of think of it in romantic terms. When you’re in a relationship with someone, you don’t have to go on dates frequently to be in that relationship, but why would you not want to?”
As a Lutheran himself, Kurt has found immense appreciation for Valpo’s Lutheran heritage. “In my opinion, Valpo’s emphasis on faith is at the core of who it is as a University. To me, Valpo is tied integrally to the Chapel, and the Chapel is tied integrally to Valpo. If you remove that, then it’s just another liberal arts college in the Midwest. Our focus on faith and the Lutheran and Christian heritage is unique. The faith-based programming on campus helps to build community.”
