For most students, meeting their college roommate happens on move-in day. For Jonathan Henry and Walker Hebblethwaite, it was the start of a new chapter with a familiar face.
The two first crossed paths on the pickup basketball court in fourth grade at Community Christian School, but their friendship really took off during one of Hebblethwaite’s high school birthday parties. Rooming together started as a joke, but a few months before graduation, they decided to attend SNU together. Friends from high school quickly dubbed them the “SNU Bros,” a nickname that has stuck.
“College is hard to begin with, so I thought it would be cool to start off with a friend,” Henry said. Though Hebblethwaite, a political science major and men’s soccer player, and Henry, an English major who spends a lot of time off campus, have different routines, they share plenty of laughs. From sitting together in learning community classes and chapel to ping pong matches and coffee runs in the Webster Commons, the roommates encourage each other every step of the way. Hebblethwaite said, “[Henry] is pretty funny and does not take anything too seriously. We always have a good time wherever we go.”
Freshman elementary education major Ania Buckner and psychology major Lilly Hunt also turned a high school friendship into a college adventure. They first bonded on a senior class trip to Estes Park, Colorado, tackling a challenging hike together. After attending Becoming, both felt drawn to SNU’s Christ-centered community. The pair toured campus on June 27, 2025, and a month later officially became roommates.
Their favorite part of living together is having constant support and someone to share life with. Hunt said it is great to have a friend who listens without judgment. Over the semester, they have enjoyed “girls’ nights” with face masks and movies, tackled challenges like the Tortilla Slap Challenge, and spent time on campus with other high school friends. Outside Bracken Tower, they attend church together, join watch parties for Stranger Things, and make weekly trips to Target.
For both pairs of roommates, living together at SNU adds a new chapter to friendships that started years ago. They are proving that college is a little easier when you can laugh, explore, and navigate it with a friend by your side.
Photo by: SNU Creative