Southern Nazarene University’s campus is filled with a variety of student populations — student-athletes, first-generation students, and Nazarene dependents. One of the lesser-known groups that make up campus life, however, is legacy students. This small population, much like the others, makes incredible impacts on SNU and its culture.
Legacy students are those who have had immediate family members attend and graduate from SNU. The university hosts a variety of prospective student events and tours for athletes, private school seniors, and departmental previews. Around Homecoming weekend, SNU also hosts an alumni-student event designed to bring alumni and prospective students together for an afternoon to tour campus and learn more about life at the university.
This event was especially meaningful for me — it was the first time I felt truly at home and connected to this campus, even after spending years of my childhood here while my mom was in school. My mom, Jamie Hyatt, chose to earn her bachelor’s degree and MBA through the adult studies program because of how simple SNU made returning to school.
When asked how her experiences influenced my decision to attend SNU, she explained, “The small campus experience and the connection we had with our professors.” She’s exactly right — finding a small yet connected campus was important to me when choosing a school. At SNU, students are not simply numbers. To professors and administrators, students bring value and life to this community.
For some families, the connection to SNU stretches even further. For Tim Hough, the tradition goes back four generations. Both Tim and his father, Todd, were drawn to SNU for its well-known business department and strong academic reputation. His mom, Kim, shared that choosing SNU was simple, as both of her parents attended the school back when it was Bethany Nazarene College.
Campus life wouldn’t be the same without opportunities to get involved outside the classroom, and both Kim and Tim made the most of their time here. Kim worked for The Echo, helped with NSI weekend, and participated in intramural sports. When Tim arrived in 2021, he founded and competed on the debate team and joined SNU’s equestrian team, continuing until his graduation in spring 2025.
For Jose Garcia-Sanchez, the decision to attend SNU was influenced by his mom, Rosario Garcia, who serves as a faculty member. Through his involvement with the Student Belonging Team, the Hispanic-Latinx Student Society, and the Esports team, Jose has found his home at SNU.
Rosario, already working on campus when she decided to return to school, described her experience as “accessible, connected, and faith-driven.” Whether through SALT, NSI, or SSS, both Rosario and Jose have played vital roles in shaping campus life.
SNU is a campus centered on helping students find their place — not only within the university’s culture but also in their spirituality and professional growth. Each of these legacy students and alumni has left their mark on SNU, truly embracing what it means to be purposefully different.
Photos by: SNU Creative