Through Trevecca’s Urban Farm, students in the school’s environmental science minor can connect scientific learning with hands-on work rooted in care for creation. The minor gives students an introductory understanding of environmental theory and current environmental concerns through a Christ-centered approach, while the Urban Farm offers a practical setting for students to see those ideas at work.
For Tessa Nantze, that combination helped make Trevecca a place where she wanted to stay.
Nantze, a junior biology major with minors in environmental science and chemistry, came to Trevecca from Oklahoma City. She grew up in the Nazarene church and knew she wanted to study out of state. When she visited Trevecca, the Urban Farm caught her attention almost immediately.
“I saw what was going on at the farm, and I just really felt like that was something that I wanted to be a part of,” Nantze said.
After her first year, Nantze considered transferring. She wondered whether she needed to study somewhere else to pursue environmental science more directly, as Trevecca does not have a full major in the field. But after talking with professors and thinking through her options, she decided to stay.
“I definitely think it was the right choice with how I’ve grown here,” Nantze said. “It just feels right to be here. And I feel like I’m getting the education that I need.”
The environmental science minor is designed for students who are passionate about science and caring for creation. For Nantze, the program has allowed her to keep environmental study as part of her education while she also explores a future in microbiology.
“Environmental science is a big part of who I am,” Nantze said. “So I still want to keep that aspect of my education.”
One of the clearest ways she has done that is through the Urban Farm.
The farm gives students opportunities to participate in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. Nantze has helped with daily chores, animal care, planting, greenhouse work and campus projects such as moving goats to clear brush.
Every day looks different, she said, and that has become part of the value.
“Getting to go be a part of the farm was really exciting for me,” Nantze said. “It was tangible, real work that I could be a part of. I really feel like the farm has been a big part of my education here.”
That hands-on experience has taught her practical skills while also helping her think more deeply about environmental responsibility.
Studying science at Trevecca has also deepened her faith. She said she wishes more people could hear from Trevecca’s science professors because of the way they help students think about creation and scientific study together.
She still remembers something one of her professors, Dr. Jorge, said in class.
“When we learn about creation, when we learn about science, that’s a form of worship because we are dedicating our time and our lives to studying what God has created,” Nantze said. “That really resonated with me, and I’ve carried that in my education.”
As her academic path continues to develop, Nantze said Trevecca has given her space to ask questions and learn through mistakes. A piece of advice from Jason Adkins, Trevecca’s environmental projects coordinator, has stayed with her.
“You have to be willing to be wrong and make mistakes,” Nantze said. “I’ve really adopted that. It’s the only way to grow.”
This willingness is part of what made Trevecca feel like the right place for her.
“It really just feels like home,” Nantze said. “It feels so welcoming, even though when I came from out of state I didn’t know people here at all.”
For environmental science-minded students, Nantze’s experience points to what Trevecca hopes to offer through a Christ-centered lens.
“The professors and mentors here are very encouraging and they want the best for you,” Nantze said. “I don’t think you can get that just anywhere.”