Ethan Rester
Graduation Year
2026
Hometown/Where You Call Home
Cheltenham, PA
Major
Pre-Engineering
How did you hear about Covenant and why did you choose Covenant?
I chose Covenant because I recognized that to obtain a world-class education, be well prepared for future study and employment in engineering, all while growing in seeing the world from a Christian perspective, is a rare and valuable opportunity. I did not want to grow in my college years in a secular environment where it would be easy to fall into defining my faith by what it is not. I wanted to be in an environment where I grew in my faith being able to discuss in a Christian community what it means to live for Christ in all walks of life, and grow in how I emulate this in my own life.
What aspect of Covenant do you like best?
The deep Christian community I have experienced with my roommates, hall, classes, and major is my favorite part about Covenant. It has been a wonderful opportunity to be encouraged and encourage my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, as we all seek to follow and glorify God in everything we do. I have been blessed with friendships and a camaraderie here that has defined my perspective on what fellowship means, and am thankful for all the fun times and serious conversations I have been able to have as a result.
What about the professors and/or academics has impacted you the most?
The professors here care for their students exceptionally well in and outside of the classroom. The course difficulty is, as a rule, hard, but with the goal to build and strengthen and not break. This has particularly been the case for me with my engineering and STEM classes, and I have come to the other side confident that I can do the material and continue growing in my knowledge of the field in contexts outside of the classroom with sufficient time. I have also appreciated the personal, intentional care that my professors have shown me, from things as simple as an eagerness to answer questions outside of class to willingness to walk with me as I think through the next steps after Covenant and how to use my skills and experiences to bring glory to God and build up his people.
What part of your major do you most enjoy or feel most prepared by?
I feel most prepared by the quality of course content that stems from its difficulty. The courses I have taken for engineering at Covenant are as hard or harder than those offered at Georgia Tech, and seeing that I have been able to succeed in these is encouraging as I prepare for transferring there, Lord willing, in the Fall.
What do you hope to pursue after Covenant and how do you see Covenant supporting your future career or calling?
After Covenant and finishing my engineering degree, I hope to pursue engineering. I am still working out what specific courses I want to use in this, but I would love to work as a mechanical engineer in the aerospace or defense industries, working with propulsion systems. I see my time at Covenant as providing a framework of reminders for what it means to work at this with my whole heart and honor God through my work, and how I use the results of my work to bless my family, church and community.
How is Covenant equipping you for active membership in the church or discipleship within the body of Christ?
The community I have experienced here has allowed me to see how sweet it is to live as a part of the body of Christ. I have been a part of several bible studies with my hall, and have grown to see close engagement with other Christians as a necessary part of living with joy and using my specific gifts to serve and encourage others. I have also had the opportunity to help lead music for Prayer and Praise multiple times, and have used this experience to become more involved with the music ministry at my church.
In what ways does Covenant foster spiritual formation that stands out to you?
Chapel and Prayer & Praise are built into weekly life at Covenant in a way that calls students regularly to remember why we are here, whom we serve and who we are because of Christ. It is a reminder to me that I cannot thrive as a child of God or maintain a healthy view of his calling for me without intentional time spent with His people or in His word. It has become a rhythm that challenges me to dig deeper in my relationship with Christ and has fostered a hunger for relationship that has strengthened my intentionality about my faith and friendships both inside and outside the context of Covenant.
How has the Covenant community supported your development as a whole person?
I think the most impactful way the community here has impacted my wholistic development is the fact that little of my daily life is isolated to impact only one aspect of my person. Classes almost always start with prayer or reflection on the Christian life. Dinner with my hall may be a time of laughter, encouragement, mutual care for how we are handling the responsibilities we face in and outside of classes, and serious conversation about nearly any topic. Chapel talks and bible studies draw me back to the Gospel but challenge me to live wholeheartedly for Christ, and to reflect thoughtfully on how I do this. I have had opportunities to meet older Christians working in various fields, and hear their stories and thoughts on how to work well in their role while glorifying God.
How have your relationships at Covenant shaped your expectations for the other communities God will call you to in life?
I have tasted the richness of community at Covenant and in my life at my local church, and will not be satisfied with shallow relationships or involvement with my church in the future. I think this hunger is healthy, a reminder that the body of Christ in unity and fellowship is a true joy to be a part of, and further that this fellowship can be cultivated in any context I am in. I am excited to see where God will call me, and eager to see how I can encourage those around me through sharing the level of friendship and care I have received here with others.
What is your favorite memory from your time at Covenant?
It's hard to just pick one! I have loved hanging out with my friends, laughing over Great Hall barbeque about the latest hall shenanigans, and surviving the most recent round of tests. I have also loved being able to watch the sunset from my dorm room window as I play music with my roommates, simply being able to savor the beauty that surrounds campus (when the fog isn't too dense!).