The Williams Pulse

New Eagles, New Stories: VIP Day Conversations

In this special VIP Day episode of The Williams Pulse, we sit down with new Williams Baptist University students who are officially joining the Eagle family this fall. You will hear how God has led them from small towns and big cities across the country to a Christ centered campus in Walnut Ridge, and what they are most excited about as they step into this next chapter. From a 12 hour drive down from Michigan to pursue wrestling and a future in criminal justice, to a transfer student chasing a business management and marketing degree while grinding in the gym on a basketball scholarship, these conversations highlight the mix of grit, calling and personality that our new Eagles bring to campus. Along the way, they talk about coaches who believed in them, churches that shaped them, and dreams that range from law enforcement to missions and entrepreneurship. Whether you are a current student, an alum or a future Eagle, this episode gives you a front row seat to the energy of VIP Day and the kind of students who make Williams Baptist University such a special community.

Wrapping Up the Year with SAB: Finals Week Fun, Surveys, and Softball

In this SAB edition of The Williams Pulse, Big Sip and Miss Jessica host their last episode of the school year and walk you through everything happening as campus winds down. From the Spring Fling hangover and a much-needed break for the Student Activities Board to upcoming events like Play & Pray, ice cream floats on Academic Preparation Day, movie night in the Midkiff Meadow, a free lemonade stand, the petting zoo, late-night breakfast, and a visit from the Humble & Grind Coffee Truck, this episode is your guide to the final days of the semester. They also shout out Eagle Athletics heading into AMC tournaments, celebrate a year of broken records and an awesome athletics banquet, and look ahead to graduation day for the Class of 2026. Along the way, they talk SAB surveys, how your feedback shapes next year’s events, and why you should apply to join the most fun job on campus. Whether you’re cramming for finals, planning your summer, or thinking about getting more involved next year, this episode will help you finish the year strong with SAB.

VIP Day Live: New Eagles, New Roomies, and Next Steps for Fall 2026

In this special live episode of The Williams Pulse, we’re on the floor at VIP Day, April 16, 2026, capturing the energy of future Eagles and the families who brought them to campus. Host Bill Jeffery sits down with incoming students, including scholarship athletes, Williams Works students, future teachers, ministers, counselors, and more, as they talk about why they chose Williams, what they did at VIP Day, and how today helped calm those first-year nerves. You’ll hear stories about getting athletic and academic scholarships, meeting advisors, building first-semester class schedules, making student IDs, and even discovering future roommates and new friends. There’s plenty of laughter, a few surprise moments (including some unsupervised podcast “bonus content” and live worship singing), and a clear picture of how VIP Day helps students put names to faces and start feeling at home before move-in. Whether you’re a future student wondering what VIP Day is really like, a parent hoping to see what your student experienced, or an alum cheering on the next generation, this episode lets you hear the heartbeat of Williams Baptist University in real time. Williamsbu.edu/registration for more photos and to sign up for the next event.

Spring Fling Week at WBU: Touch Grass, Throw Hands, and VIP Day

It’s Spring Fling week at Williams! Big Sip and Mrs. Jessica break down everything happening on campus so you don’t miss a thing—from Miss WBU and Monday’s cookout + bonfire worship, to Tuesday’s Touch Grass and Throw Hands inflatables and IDOP. We’ll walk you through VIP Day (why you definitely want to come if you’re an incoming student), Thursday night’s Spring Formal: Flyest Eagles, Suits, Sparkles & Sneakers, and Friday’s Grace Graber concert featuring punk-style covers of songs you already know. Highlights this episode: * What Spring Fling is and why it’s a longtime WBU tradition * Monday’s Lunch & Learn with Taylor Jeffery, intramural basketball, cookout in the Cove, and bonfire worship * Tuesday’s Touch Grass & Throw Hands and International Dorm of Pancakes * Wednesday chapel with Dr. Fox and faculty vs. students dodgeball * Thursday VIP Day + how to get ready for fall before move-in * Thursday night Spring Formal details (location, time, tickets) * Friday’s Grace Graber concert and how WBU students get in free Follow @WBUStudentActivities on Instagram for updates, reminders, and all the Spring Fling photos.

Major Moments: Psychology, Research, and the Road to Grad School

In this Major Moments installment of The Williams Pulse, campus therapist Taylor Jeffery sits down with senior psychology majors Kaelyn Gooch and Rebecca Fowler to unpack what studying psychology at Williams is really like. Together they talk through their Synthesis of Psychology capstone course, the weekly reading and discussion rhythm, and how it feels to pull together everything they’ve learned into one cohesive, big-picture experience. Kaelyn and Rebecca also share how their original research projects moved from classroom idea to professional presentation at the Southwestern Psychological Association conference in Frisco, Texas. You’ll hear Rebecca describe her work using writing analysis software to explore trauma narratives and PTSD indicators, and Kaelyn explain her study on imposter syndrome in college students—plus what their findings reveal about how many students quietly struggle with self-doubt. For future students wondering whether psychology at WBU is a good fit, this episode offers an honest look at the opportunities that come with a small, relational program: close mentoring from professors, the chance to do real research as an undergraduate, and support to present your work alongside students from much larger universities. You’ll also hear how these experiences are shaping Kaelyn and Rebecca’s next steps into graduate programs in counseling and social work, and how a psychology degree from Williams can prepare you not only for mental health careers, but also for fields like occupational therapy, ministry, and other people-centered vocations. Whether you’re a prospective student, a current undergrad still deciding on a major, or just curious about the mind and behavior, this conversation shows how psychology at Williams can grow your understanding of people, deepen your empathy, and open doors for what comes next.   Learn more here: https://williamsbu.edu/psychology [https://williamsbu.edu/psychology]