OVERCOMING INJURIES FOR THE FINAL GAMES

October 9, 2018

Shantih crushed it on Sept. 19, 2018 when they founded a new legacy within their club. Shantih sponsor and Harding Project Coordinator, Victoria Spelce, was present the night her son was voted into the club as a Shantih beau.

“It thrilled my heart to be part of such a special, exciting occasion with Nic,” Victoria Spelce said.” I loved seeing the surprise and joy in his eyes as Shantih welcomed him into the family.”

Nicolas Spelce, a sophomore Communication Sciences Disorder major, now shares in a new family with his mom. The evening he became a beau, just so happened to also be his birthday, the special day that also bonded Nicolas Spelce and Victoria Spelce as son and mom.

Shantih has continued to grow to be a family built on real relationships according to Kassie Kilgore, a senior Exercise Science major.

“The Shantih sisterhood is one big family,” Kilgore said. “We really strive to make ourselves available to each other and to love one another through life’s ups and downs.”

When Shantih nominated Nicolas Spelce, they recognized that he met the characteristics and qualities they seek to be present in their beau.

“We look for men that love Shantih just as much as we do, and are especially caring and considerate toward others,” Kilgore said. “Nic is one of the nicest guys that I know. He would do anything for anyone. It was an absolute joy to honor him and be the one to place my Shantih jersey over his head. He has already made a genuine effort to get to know as many of our girls as possible.”

When Nicolas Spelce became a student, it was inevitable that he would have a natural relation to Shantih through his mom being a sponsor. However, it was through his own genuine care for others that helped him to receive this honor, which made his mom all the more proud.

“I could not be prouder,” Victoria Spelce said. “When I was a student going through the club process, I never dreamed I would one day have the privilege of sharing in the experience with my son. As an extrovert and natural encourager, Nic is in his element being a beau and it makes me smile watching him connect with such an awesome group.”

Victoria Spelce has been a Shantih sponsor since 2013. However, her being a sponsor, and her son being a beau, is not the only connection she has to Shantih. In 1991, Victoria Spelce pledged Harding’s social club Tri Delta Epsilon, but was only active one semester. She had never truly experienced being a part of a sisterhood until she was offered the opportunity to become a sponsor.

“As a mom of two boys, I saw serving in this role as a sponsor as the perfect way to ‘adopt’ some daughters,” Victoria Spelce said. “When a friend contacted me about a club needing a sponsor, I was quite surprised and literally laughed out loud to discover it was Shanith because of my history with them.”

Shantih was Victoria Spelce’s first choice club as a freshman, but she did not get an invitation. After pledging Tri Delta Epsilon, she went inactive in the spring in attempt to jump to Shantih, but the jump was also not accepted.

“It was definitely disappointing but did not stop me from having an amazing experience at Harding as I found many other ways to get involved,” Spelce said. “I decided to say yes to sponsoring Shantih because it is better late, 20 years, than never to become a slice of the orange, right?”

As for Nicolas Spelce, he was excited to add Shantih to the commonalities he and his mom share.

“Having my mom a part of the club definitely adds to the fun of the experience,” Nicolas Spelce said. “I feel that it is a huge honor to be apart of the YY family. I am extremely thankful that they chose me to be a part of their family, and I will never forget the night I became their beau.”

The night Nicolas Spelce became a beau will always resonate a strong and vivid memory. Before Kilgore threw the jersey over his head, the only thought on his mind was the mail waiting for him in his mailbox. Little did he know a club dressed in orange and white was also waiting for him.

“When Kassie and I got to campus after a devo, we started making way to the mailboxes,” Nicolas Spelce said. “I was completely unaware of what was to come, I was simply excited to see if I had any birthday mail. When I finally got to my mailbox all I heard was the sound of people rushing toward me followed by a sea of orange. The rest is history.”

Shantih added to their story and honored a new legacy within their club. This decision not only honored Nicolas Spelce, but also honored the strong relationship between him and his mom.

“To me, legacy is purposeful living to make a positive impact on those you touch,” Vistoria Spelce said.” It is being a daily example of Colossians 3:17, ‘And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him’.”

Orange you glad to know of the story of when a unique Shantih legacy was formed?