Physical wellness is something that’s important to many students on campus, especially Eddie Luke. As a sophomore theology major, his physical wellbeing is a major part of his spiritual life. “Wellness is a lifestyle. Personally, I think about my spiritual walk with God while working out,” Eddie said. “It’s a time for me to meditate and look where I am spiritually.

“Something that I always realize after a run is how much God has grown me. And sometimes I’ll realize that He got me through that really tough run that I didn’t think I was going to be able to make happen.”

Being physically active not only helps Eddie on his spiritual walk, but also with his academics. When he’s stressed about a project coming up, he’ll go to the gym. “By the time I get done, I feel so much better. I process things through my workouts, and I’ll come up with ideas,” he said. “But when there’s a week or two where I don’t work out, I just feel so bad—I’m miserable and I need to do something.”

The son of Kandra and Mike Luke, Eddie has grown up on Union’s campus—playing in the Advancement Office while his mother worked or visiting his father at AdventSource after school. As his cardio routine grew up from games of tag to treadmills, he’s wished Union’s facilities had grown with him. “When you get to the gym, you’re feeling great because it took a lot of willpower to just put on the clothes to go work out, and then you get there and there’s no space,” he said. “I tell myself I have to adjust, but the space of the facility is a challenge for me.” 

The unveiling of the Fit for the Future campaign and the possibility of improved facilities provides hope. “Having a facility and having a campus that is taking our wellness seriously motivates me,” Eddie said. “I really believe that students will be empowered and be appreciative because other people believe in us. I know it empowers me because I’ll be able to walk in there and say, ‘wow, somebody—a donor, a community member—believes in me, believes in this campus, this community, and they have gifted us with this amazing facility.’”

You can support students like Eddie through the Fit for the Future campaign here.