Brandon Englin is a senior Biblical and Theological Studies major, as well as a Leadership Studies minor, from Garner, Iowa. His future career interest is some form of ministry, whether that be pastoral work or a similar field. Englin also enjoys engineering and designing things, and he is excited to see how God uses both of these passions in a future career.
Englin has been involved in many things in his four years at Northwestern. For music and the arts, he has been involved in Athletic Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Worship Team, Percussion Ensemble and the Just Jazz Combo. As for other extracurriculars, he is a part of the Honors Program, Accelerate Siouxland, Mondays for Men, the NEXT mentoring program, is a TA, was a Student Ambassador and was an RA in Colenbrander Hall his sophomore and junior year.
Englin has been very involved in the music program all four years and has played a key role in each of his activities. Englin has often been seen running around the percussion section at a Symphonic Band concert, playing for the drum line at a football game, being the timpanist in orchestra or performing his epic, “Whiplash”-esque drum solo for Just Jazz last year at NC/DC. Englin is incredibly talented at what he does, thoroughly enjoys it and has been a great leader for the percussion section for the last four years.
He has had many different highlights and memories throughout his time in band, but one of his favorites has been going on band tours. On band tour, he has been able to teach kids about music, serve at schools in need, volunteer at a homeless shelter and serve at churches. He says he has loved having the privilege to share the music the band has prepared with many different people across the country and, in a few weeks, across the world as Englin will be going on the band trip to Italy over spring break.
Englin has learned many things from being in music at NW, but a major takeaway he has had is that music is powerful. He says here in college was the first time, besides playing for worship team at church, that he saw faith being integrated into music. Music has the ability to speak volumes even when words do not, and Englin is thankful that music can not only share his story but God’s story as well.
Another important role Englin has had on campus was being an RA in Coly for two years. In his time as an RA, Englin was very impactful to his fellow RAs, his wing and the dorm as whole. His continued presence for his residents, thoughtfulness, intentionality and willingness to be there for others showed his compassionate heart and commitment to being the best RA he could be. Englin says that his favorite part about being an RA was investing in the guys on his wing while being on the RA staff with the same vision. The RA opportunity blessed him with the chance to have many conversations, both good and difficult, with guys, which increased his love for relational ministry and helped develop some of the many Christ-like qualities Englin shows today.
Being at NW and praticipating in many things, Englin has learned a lot from his many experiences. He says the biggest thing he has learned is that there is much more to every aspect of life than we realize. Englin has noticed through classes, friendships and time in God’s Word that there is always something more to learn. He loves learning new things about people and their passions, as well as the Bible and the depths of knowledge and wisdom we can gain from just a few verses. He says that God has made it evident to him that each situation is an opportunity to grow closer to him and reflect his character to those around us, so we should continue to search for him, as he will continue to reveal himself to us.
Some of Englin’s favorite memories at NW are conversations with friends, meeting his now fiancée on the athletic band’s trip to Durham for the National Championship, his SSP to Coldwater and the Honors Greece trip. Englin says he has been greatly blessed here at NW, and he wants to be able to bless others in the future with all he has learned. The legacy he wants to leave here is that people remember him as a person who reflected Christ and showed his love to those around him. Thank you, Englin, for being a light and blessing here on campus.
