Christian Union: The Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 33

Pressing Toward the Mark
Jeffrey Gao ’18 Gears up for Senior Year
by tom campisi , managing editor
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Chase Carlisle, a Christian Union ministry fellow
Jeffrey Gao, a rising senior and member
at Dartmouth, said Gao is humble, teachable, and
of the lightweight rowing team, is on the
well-balanced in various facets of college life.
final lap of his Dartmouth College days.
“I don’t know many students, or people in gen-
It’s been three fantastic years for the San Diego
eral, as disciplined as Jeff.  Whether it’s serving the
native, who is a co-president of Christian Union’s
community, rowing, or academics, he just seems to
ministry on campus. With the wind at his back,
always be on task and dedicated to what he’s doing,”
Gao is preparing for the start of his senior year,
Carlisle said.
welcoming incoming freshmen, and continuing to
For the past two years, with the encouragement
be an ambassador for Christ on the rowing team. A
of Christian Union ministry fellows, Gao led a Bi-
computer science and economics double major, he
enjoyed a summer internship with a re-
search and experience management com-
pany in downtown Seattle, but is eager
to return to campus in Hanover, New
Hampshire and his role with Christian
Union’s leadership development ministry.
“Christian Union has been an incred-
ible source of growth for me in my time
at Dartmouth. The ministry fellows and
student leaders have been active in getting
to know me and in mentoring me even
before I arrived as a freshman,” said Gao,
who received the National Merit Schol-
Photo courtesy of Dartmouth Athletic Department
arship during his senior year of high
school at Canyon Crest Academy. “Over Jeffrey Gao (center) is a co-president of Christian Union’s ministry at Dartmouth.
the past few years, I’ve made deep and
lasting relationships that I never would have expect-
ble study with teammates on the lightweight rowing
ed and I’ve learned so much about what it looks like
team. He had participated in the Bible study as a
to seek the Lord well.”
freshman, and stepped into a leadership role after
Gao’s growth as a believer and emergence as a
the graduation of a senior who started it.
leader was impacted by Bible courses, mentoring,
“The course has grown a lot over the last few
fellowship, and the example of upperclassmen who
years, and, by now, a good portion of the team has
went before him.
been to at least one of the weekly meetings at some
“My biggest takeaway from Christian Union at
point. It is an amazing opportunity because it gives
Dartmouth has been an overall understanding of
me a chance to talk about Scripture and faith with
what life in Christ and in Christian community
the people around whom I spend the most time,”
looks like,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot about how to
Gao said.
approach repentance and forgiveness and how to
As he steps into a larger role with Christian
have accountability and prayer with my closest
Union, Gao will pass along the leadership of the
friends. I’ve also learned what it looks like to study
team Bible study to another rowing mate. He is
Scripture regularly and to think about serious and
hoping to attend that Bible study, in addition to a
relevant issues from a Christian perspective.”
Christian Union Bible Course for seniors. In Sep-
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