{"id":37682,"date":"2025-04-30T12:07:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T16:07:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/?p=37682"},"modified":"2025-04-30T15:06:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T19:06:17","slug":"furman-fellows-class-of-2025-previews-and-completes-award-winning-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/furman-fellows-class-of-2025-previews-and-completes-award-winning-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Furman Fellows Class of 2025 previews and completes award-winning projects"},"content":{"rendered":"

The five members of Furman University\u2019s Class of 2025, who each received a Furman Fellows award, have previewed or completed their work.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Furman Fellowships<\/a>\u00a0are awarded each year to recognize seniors\u2019 accomplishments, contributions and potential, with a\u00a0$10,000 award to pursue their academic, creative and professional pathways.<\/p>\n

They all attended Furman Engaged<\/a> on April 11 and presented their work in game development, animation, fashion, playwriting and visual arts.<\/p>\n

The Furman Fellowship is an endowed scholarship fund founded in 2004 with a gift from Trustee Emeritus\u00a0Robert H. Buckman<\/a> and his wife, Joyce Mollerup. The fund was established to recognize seniors who use their creativity and imagination to make a difference in the university and in the lives of others, according to Buckman.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Stephen Turner \u201925<\/strong><\/p>\n

Major: English<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hometown: Inman, South Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Furman Fellow Stephen Turner \u201925 works on his animation project in the communications lab in Furman Hall on Thursday, March 13. 2025. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.<\/p><\/div>\n

Stephen Turner has an Animated Take on Autism Education<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Stephen Turner \u201925 always knew he wanted to tell stories \u2013 but it wasn\u2019t until the Furman Fellows opportunity arose that one long-simmering idea finally helped him find his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’d always thought of doing something like this,\u201d he said, \u201cbut never actually put any concrete words to it until I was forced to. That\u2019s kind of the thing with a lot of writers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turner\u2019s project, part of the Furman Fellows initiative, is an animated series centered around a fictional character named Jacob, a young autistic college student, and a voice that follows him \u2013 offering advice, understanding and occasionally comic relief. It\u2019s a parody of the well-meaning but awkward social skills videos Turner saw throughout his experience as a student on the spectrum.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were so stilted. Like, watch someone do it the wrong way, then the right way. It sends this message that there\u2019s only one right way to be,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s just not true.\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally conceptualized with sci-fi flair \u2013 a narrator with time-travel powers \u2013 the project evolved into something more grounded but equally bold. \u201cThe voice became more than a gimmick. It turned into a metaphor for ego, for that internal pressure to act \u2018normal.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Stephen was diagnosed with autism at age 3 and said telling these stories from a place of lived experience is essential. \u201cI want Jacob to feel like a real person even though they\u2019re kind of two sides of the same coin.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s animating the series himself, with a team of student voice actors and weekly independent study time carved out for production. He was able to debut a preview of the project in April during Furman Engaged.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something I would\u2019ve wanted as a kid,\u201d he said. \u201cSomething that\u2019s honest and funny and gets it. If I can make that, I think it could help a lot of people.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jalen Livingston \u201925<\/strong><\/p>\n

Major: Computer science<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Jalen Livingston \u201925 works on a video game he is designing as part of his Furman Fellows project. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.<\/p><\/div>\n

Jalen Livingston Builds His Dream in Roblox with Project Chris<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For Furman Fellow Jalen Livingston \u201925, a dream that began over a decade ago is finally coming to life\u2014inside a video game. \u201cProject: Chris\u201d is a narrative-driven Roblox role-playing game about a college student piecing together the memories of a mysterious breakup. But beneath the code lies something even deeper: a personal story of growth, resilience and representation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t grow up with a console,\u201d Livingston said. \u201cRoblox was my way in. All you needed was a computer and some imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n

After falling in love with game design as a kid, Livingston is using \u201cProject: Chris\u201d to bring his story full circle. The title pays homage to a Roblox fan game that sparked his love for virtual world-building. \u201cAll I had was a yellow-skinned avatar and a dream,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n

At the emotional core of \u201cProject: Chris\u201d is a young man navigating college while struggling with personal loss. It mirrors Jalen\u2019s own experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went through a breakup last summer. I was in a slump for two months,\u201d he recalled. \u201cBut I realized I can turn this into something. I needed a story for the game, and it was right there.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a goal to make gaming more inclusive, Jalen is also integrating accessibility features like colorblind modes and controller remapping. \u201cIf we\u2019re talking about a game everyone can play, we have to include everyone,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Despite challenges, Livingston finds motivation in his purpose. \u201cThis is the thing that\u2019s going to change my life,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about making a game. It\u2019s about proving to myself \u2013 and to Roblox \u2013 that I can do this.\u201d<\/p>\n

And he\u2019s just getting started.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Torrey Kridel \u201925<\/strong><\/p>\n

Major: Biology and studio art<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hometown: Clemmons, North Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Torrey Kridel \u201925 organizes art pieces in the Integration of Art undergraduate juried art show that is displayed in the Herring Center for Continuing Education. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.<\/p><\/div>\n

Torrey Kridel Breaks Boundaries with Undergraduate Art Showcase<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For Torrey Kridel \u201925, Furman\u2019s campus was love at second sight. \u201cI was in a bad mood the whole day,\u201d she laughed, recalling her first visit. \u201cBut once I got here, I was like, oh wait \u2013 I really like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now a senior double-majoring in biology and studio art, Kridel has carved a unique path \u2013 one that blends science and creativity into a vision for the future: medical illustration. \u201cPeople always say, \u2018That\u2019s such a weird combination!\u2019 But for me, it makes perfect sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a Furman Fellow, Kridel created and curated an art show highlighting the intersections of art and other disciplines \u2013 biology, botany, politics, religion. Hosted by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute on Furman\u2019s campus, the exhibit features work by undergraduate artists from across the region. \u201cIt\u2019s crazy to see it all come together \u2013 it\u2019s no longer just a theoretical idea in my head.\u201d<\/p>\n

The project began after Kridel was inspired by another fellow’s work and her own experience exhibiting at Clemson University\u2019s undergraduate show. \u201cI realized how rare it is for undergrad artists to have a platform,\u201d she said. \u201cSo, I wanted to create one \u2013 especially to show how art can intersect with other fields.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show includes everything from political photography to therapeutic teaching tools. \u201cYou might not see the connection right away, but when you read the artists\u2019 statements, it all starts to click.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kridel\u2019s own journey has been just as interdisciplinary. From summer internships in Furman\u2019s biology collections to field guides featuring hand-drawn local species, she\u2019s constantly bridging worlds. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about doing both majors. It\u2019s about finding where they meet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Up next: a gap year focused on portfolio-building and research before applying to one of the world\u2019s nine medical illustration graduate programs. \u201cThere are only 60 spots in the U.S. \u2013 but I\u2019m ready,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Seth Jones \u201925<\/strong><\/p>\n

Major: Theatre arts and English<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hometown: Tifton, Georgia<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Furman Fellow Seth Jones \u201925, right, listens as the cast of \u201cSparta,\u201d a play he wrote, performs a read through of the script at The Playhouse on Nov. 21, 2024. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.<\/p><\/div>\n

Seth Jones Reimagines Representation Onstage with Bold Original Play<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For Seth Jones \u201925, theater isn\u2019t just entertainment \u2013 it\u2019s a vehicle for truth. As a Furman Fellow, the English and theatre arts double major from Tifton, Georgia, wrote \u201cSPARTA,\u201d a bold, unapologetic original play that wrestles with masculinity and identity through the lens of a high school boys\u2019 wrestling team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started writing \u2018SPARTA\u2019 right after I came back from studying abroad in the UK,\u201d Jones said. \u201cIt all began with a scene full of fragmented dialogue. From there, I built the characters and their stories outward.\u201d<\/p>\n

The play follows seven wrestlers in the days leading up to regionals, centering on the tensions between a star athlete, his nonbinary sibling and their coach \u2013 who is also their father. The play specifically cast any gender as actors, even those in male roles, adding a layer of distance that invites deeper reflection. \u201cYou’re hearing something a man would say, but a man’s not saying it. That changes how you engage with it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

With support from the Furman Fellows program, Seth held a summer workshop with paid local actors to workshop the play \u2013 a pivotal experience. \u201cHaving outside voices in the room who weren\u2019t tied to Furman gave me honest, unbiased feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSparta\u201d explores themes often sanitized in queer storytelling. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to write characters that watered themselves down,\u201d he said. \u201cThese queer characters are flawed. They\u2019re angry. They\u2019re human.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite early uncertainty about audience reactions, the play was a success, selling out performances and resonating deeply with students and community members. It also reinforced his next steps as he looks toward a post-grad move to New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cFurman helped me find my voice. I\u2019ve learned that I do have good ideas \u2013 and people will say yes,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David T. Jones \u201925<\/strong><\/p>\n

Major: Studio arts and theatre arts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hometown: Piedmont, South Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

David Jones \u201925, a 2025 Furman Fellow and Theatre Arts major, looks through a book of medieval art to get inspiration for the costume design of a theatre department play that will be held at The Playhouse. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.<\/p><\/div>\n

David Jones Weaves Story and Style into a Visionary Furman Fellows Project<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For David Jones \u201925, a double major in theatre and studio art, creativity has always been about storytelling. His Furman Fellows project, \u201cEveryman: Son of Eros,\u201d merged costume design, poetry and apocalyptic fashion to produce a bold, immersive artistic statement. \u201cIt\u2019s a very odd project,\u201d David admitted, \u201cbut I just wanted something that was dedicated to this kind of scope…to really develop what it is I like to do as an artist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inspired by the medieval morality play \u201cEveryman\u201d \u2013 which he \u201chated so much\u201d it sparked a burst of creativity \u2013 Jones reimagined its themes through a fashion show that flipped moral messaging on its head. \u201cI thought it would be fun to kind of do the opposite of the play…make a fashion show out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He collaborated with writer Savannah Jones to produce a zine pairing costume pieces with poetry to round out the way the fashion and the words come together to create the narrative.<\/p>\n

Jones\u2019s artistic vision is deeply shaped by his past. A former robotics student, he started sewing during the COVID-19 pandemic. \u201cI was just looking for a way to explore creatively,\u201d he recalled. \u201cI wanted to solve my problem of not having fun clothes to wear.\u201d By the time he got to Furman and started exploring his newfound passion, he also found professors who encouraged this self-direction, allowing him to reinterpret class projects and blur the lines between disciplines.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve seen anything like this before,\u201d Jones said of his project. \u201cFor better or worse. But Furman\u2019s support made it possible. All of my professors have always just let me try what is academically sound and what I can sink my teeth into.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, David hopes to continue in costume design and build a slow fashion brand rooted in storytelling. \u201cEverything has a purpose,\u201d he said. \u201cEven a blue handkerchief is there for a specific reason. That\u2019s my creative style and that\u2019s what I hope to be able to do no matter where I end up.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Five Furman students awarded Furman Fellows honors have debuted or previewed their projects. The projects ranged from theater arts and game programming to animation and fashion. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":389,"featured_media":34107,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,19,2711,31,2,2717,41,1,55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-biology","category-engaged-learning","category-english","category-featured","category-furman-engaged","category-theatre-arts","category-uncategorized","category-undergraduate-research"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/389"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37682"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37879,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37682\/revisions\/37879"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}