A New Page in the Chapter of Life
A New Page in the Chapter of Life
MOUNT OLIVE- Xavier D. Page, a 2014 University of Mount Olive (UMO) graduate from Durham, has been accepted into the master of divinity program at Campbell University Divinity School.
Page, a former Navy Counselor Chief Senior officer, noted that his journey to graduate school has been a process and started with the lessons he learned in the military. He said, “The attention to detail and holding oneself accountable was instilled throughout my 26 years of naval service. These two themes were major influences that helped prepare me for the long journey of life and education.”
Page’s earlier education from Durham Technical Community College, the Navy Leadership Academy, and Columbia Southern University, focused on machinery, leadership, and business. After retiring from the Navy, Page felt a calling to change career paths.
After volunteering as a chaplain at Rex Hospital, Page was convinced that his second career should be focused on spreading faith to underserved communities, hospitals, rest-homes, and children homes.
“God’s calling led me to chaplaincy work. So I searched for a school to prepare me both academically and spiritually for this calling,” explained Page. “My education needed to match my passion and purpose, and the University Mount Olive was the cornerstone of that scholarly journey.”
Page made an impromptu visit to UMO and was pleased with the friendly demeanor of the campus and the caring faculty. “I was certain that the Spirit of God was present throughout the campus in a very unique way and that convinced me to apply to UMO,” said Page.
During his time at UMO, Page revealed that the course load and curriculum were demanding, but he held himself accountable and excelled in his classes. In fact, he was awarded the 2013-14 UMO Religion Department Academic Student of the Year award. “The reading assignments, research papers, exegetical papers, and practical application were all facilitated and graded on a high, almost graduate level,” said Page. “The hard work was worth it in hindsight because these expectations and standards are now being reflected in my success at Campbell University Divinity School.”
Page plans to graduate from Campbell University in the spring of 2018 at which time he hopes to become a hospital chaplain and offer his services to underserved communities.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Research Triangle Park, Washington, Jacksonville, and in Smithfield at Johnston Community College. For more information, visit old.umo.edu.
