It is rare to discover your life calling at the beginning of college. It is even more rare to discover it in the middle of high school, which is typically a tumultuous time of teenage angst and on occasion, the beginning of self-discovery. However, that is exactly what happened to Rebecca Holloway, Union’s new EDGE program director.
Holloway is a 2018 Union graduate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In 2021, she later got her master’s degree from Dallas Baptist University in children’s ministry with a concentration in special needs ministry.
Holloway’s journey began when her father gave her the option to spend her summer either working at a camp specifically for adults with special needs or traveling with him while he was on sabbatical. Making the decision most high school students would, Holloway took the opportunity to stay closer to home. She was completely unaware that it would lead her in the direction of the EDGE program.
“At that camp we were responsible for the physical care of nine individuals with disabilities, and there I learned so much about how to care for someone,” Holloway said. “But, as much as I thought I was there to care for and teach my campers, they were caring and teaching me even more.”
Holloway’s passion for her work shines through on a day-to-day basis. Whether she is eating in Brewer Dining Hall or walking around campus, her focus is on her students and their acclimation to the Union way of life. Her voice is firm and decisive, however, her smile is always present.
“This is the most fulfilled and in my element that I’ve ever felt career-wise,” Holloway said. As she spoke, she nodded with conviction, “I’m very thankful the Lord has led me back to the EDGE program.”
However, Holloway’s first experience with the EDGE program was not her recent employment as director. Long before she stepped into this role, Holloway was an EDGE roommate and mentor. She served as the president of the mentor organization and witnessed the creation of Union’s EDGE program in 2015.
During her time working with individuals with disabilities, Holloway has walked through life with various people.
“I worked in high school for a few years, and then in the middle school setting. Then, I was a behavioral specialist, so I have worked with ages 2 through 26. At camp, I worked with elderly people as well, so I have been blessed to work with all different ages,” Holloway said.
Even so, her extensive experience working with people in a university setting shines through. When asked what part of her life contributed the most to her perspective of the EDGE program today, Holloway quickly chose to speak about her time as an EDGE roommate.
“Being a roommate really shaped my view and gave me a picture of what I philosophically think the EDGE program should be,” Holloway said. “I got to see that she wanted the same things we did as typical undergraduate students. She wanted friendship. She wanted to be meaningfully included in things on campus. She was working towards employment post-graduation. Those are all things people are looking for when they come to a college campus.”
Holloway’s main goal for the program is to continue the good work Union has set into place. Union’s staff and students have created a wonderful environment for which the new director could not be more grateful.
“We have amazing professors here at Union that welcome our students into their classrooms. The EDGE program is so thankful for the professors who are so welcoming to our students,” Holloway said. Her eyes lit up as she mentioned one of Union’s best qualities.
“This is a picture of the Gospel. Each and every person is made in the image of God and are worthy of the opportunity to live out the gifts that God has equipped them with,” Holloway said. “Union is making that possible for everyone, regardless of their unique learning needs. Union is getting it right.”
Even though Union’s community is an inviting atmosphere, Holloway knows that for students that do not have a background with the EDGE program like hers, it is easy to feel a bit apprehensive trying to navigate conversations with their EDGE peers. However, she highly encourages all Union students to not only engage but invest in the EDGE students on campus.
“Before I started working with people with disabilities, I had no idea. I didn’t even know how to interact with them. I didn’t know what to say,” Holloway said. “Think of it as looking to your right and left what you’re already doing and just inviting someone along with you.”
Through the program, mentors volunteer their time to help EDGE students learn their way around campus. Just as Holloway started as an EDGE roommate and mentor, she encourages all students to apply to be a mentor.
“We ask for about five hours a week of friendship and guidance to help someone acclimate to college living,” Holloway said. “The mentor program is an excellent way to get involved on campus and make an impact in a student’s life.”
Micah Diaz, a junior business marketing major, gave high praise to the program as a returning EDGE mentor, “My goals when joining as a mentor were to get a better perspective on how my mentees experience the world, to make new friends, and to serve the university as well.”
“I totally recommend becoming an EDGE mentor. To truly understand the joy of serving, you have to be willing to give EDGE a good portion of your time. However, it doesn’t hinder my schedule or keep me behind on things (I’m in several other organizations),” Diaz said. “Being an EDGE mentor allows me to serve Christ by loving on these amazing students. It’s so humbling and rewarding.”
Diaz also believes the program is in good hands with Holloway. “I’ve noticed that Ms. Holloway takes her position very seriously. She does a fantastic job of balancing fun and accountability with her students. Every time I bring an idea or an issue, she’s right on top of it. I know that I can go to her with any problem that arises and that she will take care of it,” he said.
Holloway has the experience and drive to lead the EDGE program into a new age with compassion and knowledge not only of the field but of the individuals she serves. Her love for her students is apparent from engaging in a single conversation with her. She cannot help but smile when speaking about those who hold such a special place in her heart.
“For me, this is my every single day,” she said. “This is my every moment.”
Photo by Laila Al-Hagal
