Furman Fellows explore arts, tech and the sense of self in storytelling

Five members of Furman’s Class of 2025 have received one of the university’s highest honors. Furman Fellowships are awarded each year to recognize seniors’ accomplishments, contributions and potential, with a $10,000 award to pursue their academic, creative and professional pathways.

To apply, each of this year’s awardees proposed a project that they will lead during their senior year and ultimately present at Furman Engaged, the university’s annual campus-wide celebration of high-impact learning experiences, in April 2025, when a new class of Furman Fellows will be chosen.

The Furman Fellowship is an endowed scholarship fund founded in 2004 with a gift from Trustee Emeritus Robert H. Buckman and his wife, Joyce Mollerup. The fund was established to recognize seniors who use their creativity and imagination to make a difference in the school and the lives of others, Buckman said.

This year’s Furman Fellows are:

David Jones is a member of the Furman Fellows Class of 2025.

David T. Jones ’25, Piedmont, South Carolina

A studio arts and theatre double major, David T. Jones will develop a fashion collection, “Everyman: Son of Eros,” as a modern reinterpretation of the morality play “Everyman.” The show will collaborate with various fields including sustainability studies, theatre arts, art history, sociology and anthropology, and aims to engage audiences with sustainable clothing practices. “Where the original represents everyone, the modern interpretation does not. I want to explore this idea of being alien from what society tells you to be and that reminder permeating the world surrounding you,” Jones said.

Torrey Kridel ’25, Clemmons, North Carolina

Torrey Kridel is a member of the Furman Fellows Class of 2025.

A biology and studio art double major, Torrey Kridel’s project is “The Integration of Art,” a juried art exhibition solely for undergraduate students. Juried exhibitions are highly respected in the art world, but it can be difficult for undergraduates to compete with seasoned artists. “This project aims to foster community and (create) opportunities for shared experiences among participating artists through workshops and a midpoint critique… [and provides an opportunity to show] they can be successful with an art career and open up conversations around the intentional choices between different disciplines,” Kridel said. “Students will also walk away with a powerful portfolio showpiece.”

Jalen Livingston is a member of the Furman Fellows Class of 2025.

Jalen Livingston ’25, Columbia, South Carolina

A computer science major, Jalen Livingston will develop a single-player, Sci-Fi RPG (role-playing game) experience on ROBLOX, an online multiplayer platform consisting of innovative and free-to-play games. The objective of this project is to reduce and lessen the challenges persons with disabilities (motor, visual, cognitive) typically face when attempting to play video games on their consoles, computers or mobile devices. “I aim to create a game for not only a specific group of players, but for everyone. I want to write an inspiring, imaginative, short-story narrative and implement it into a video game setting,” Livingston said.

Seth Jones ’25, Tifton, Georgia

Seth Jones is a member of the Furman Fellows Class of 2025.

A theatre arts and English double major and musical theatre minor, Seth Milton Jones has written a nine-person play, “SPARTA,” about a high school wrestling team that will be produced as part of the 2024-2025  Furman University Theatre Departmental Main Stage Session.  “As an early career playwright, going through the development process will let me understand and strengthen my particular style of writing, what it means for me to take criticism, and see how my work affects people, not only on an analytical level but also on an emotional level,” Jones said. “As a producer, I will learn about a larger side of theatre that deals with the logistics of creating and putting all the pieces of a project together.”

Stephen Turner is a member of the Furman Fellows Class of 2025.

Stephen Turner ’25, Inman, South Carolina

An English major and film studies and visual strategy minor, Stephen Turner will create series of animated educational videos about being an adult with autism called “My Life as Neurodivergent.”

“I have always wanted to tell a story, and Furman has only encouraged that drive in me through the wonderful writing classes from the English department,” Turner said. “Not only have those classes taught me the ins and outs of unity, style and revision, but they have also shown me the importance of looking inward for your story, either for nonfiction storytelling or for educational content.”