“Randa, you need to do your hair.”

Senior journalism major Randa Hinton remembered her younger sister insisting that she come to chapel looking extra polished last May 14. While Hinton had planned only to present the yearbook dedication and slip out, her sister knew a secret. Unbeknownst to Hinton, president Barry Corey would announce her as the recipient of the President's Scholarship during the same chapel that she was slotted to dedicate the yearbook.  

The President’s Scholarship covers full tuition expenses for the recipient’s senior year and is chosen based on the student’s academic achievements, dedication to extracurriculars and living out of the Christian faith. Ironically, Hinton recalled the two weeks leading up to the award as the “worst time of [her] life.”

“I was crying every day, I was exhausted, all I wanted to do was go home and I was considering taking time off of school because I was so overwhelmed,” Hinton said.

Health issues won’t hold her back

Hinton had been dealing with an ovary condition known as endometriosis. She also had yet to be diagnosed with celiac disease, or a gluten intolerance. Despite these complications, Hinton has spent her life discovering and honing many different talents and gifts, with one of the most prominent being music.

“I’ve been singing since before I could talk,” Hinton said.

She is currently a member of the gospel choir and on the worship team at her church. Her musical talents extend to playing the flute and piano as well. Music has even weaved its way into influencing Hinton’s career path. Hinton first whetted her appetite for public relations when she fundraised and promoted events for her dixie band in high school.

“That’s when I learned that I was somewhat good at [public relations] and that I actually enjoyed it,” Hinton said.

Life after college

Now, in Hinton’s senior year of college, that enjoyment has bloomed into a full passion that professionals have noticed. Hinton was offered a job in social media with Honda after completing an internship there this past summer.

After turning down the position due to the difficulties of commuting to the job at Honda while finishing her education, Hinton was hired as a market research and advertising assistant at Biola. She is also a research intern at her church, Fellowship Monrovia, and plans to move to nearby Pasadena after graduation in May.

“I want to move closer to that community just because it’s been super healthy and just really great. It’s the first church community that I’ve really been involved in since my time at Biola,” Hinton said.

“It’s OK just to relax”

Although it took Hinton until the June preceding her senior year to choose a church, she learned that getting involved in a church community is something college students should make a high priority. Over her four years, Hinton said she has also discovered the value of resting.

“Resting is good. You don’t always have to be on top of the world. I’ve done a lot in four years and I’m at this point where I am tired, so I’m learning that it’s OK just to relax,” Hinton said.