NRCA Alumni Return Home for Homecoming 2025

By Whitley Andrews, Shield Editor 

Each fall, NRCA welcomes alumni for Homecoming to enjoy a time filled with memories, laughter, and a sense of community. This year, around 175 graduates attended the event. For the first time, NRCA had representatives from every graduating class — the Class of 1997 through the Class of 2025 — present at the events.  

A few shared what it meant to come home to NRCA and how life has unfolded since graduation. 

For Nathan Ridlehoover, Class of 2000, Homecoming serves as a reunion, a return to a familiar place and familiar people. “I enjoy it. I see a lot of people I graduated with, and I see a lot of people I taught,” he said. “It’s very fulfilling.” After graduating, Ridlehoover taught high school Bible courses at NRCA and later built a career in tech sales. He remains connected to NRCA through his three children, who currently attend. 

Recent 2024 graduate Abby Ray shared her excitement about returning. “It's so fun. I love coming back. Love the alumni tent. Love my alma mater. Super fun,” she said. Ray attends East Carolina University, majoring in Exercise Physiology. She says she’s still exploring her career path but is “living the dream” in college.   

For Kathryn Whatley, Class of 2008, coming back to NRCA is a family affair. “It’s fun to come back and see [my kids] enjoy their friends and to see some of mine,” she said. Whatley is a proud mom of three, two of whom are NRCA students. She now devotes her time to raising her family full-time. 

For Joel Whatley (2008), Kathryn’s husband, NRCA still feels like home after all these years. “I really enjoy coming back and seeing a lot of the same faces. I think it is just a really good reminder of the fun times we had in high school and still feels like home,” he said. After attending NC State University, he started a career in sales. 

Rachel Roberson (2007) described Homecoming as a trip down memory lane. “I just love seeing old friends and being back on my old stomping grounds,” she said. Since graduation, Roberson worked with nonprofits and in interior design before choosing to stay home with her three boys. 

Class of 2022 graduate Mallory Young has a rich family history at NRCA. “It’s very exciting to get to see all of the people that we graduated with and to get to fellowship with each other and catch up on what life is like,” she said. Young, now a seventh grade math teacher at NRCA, said, “It’s really exciting…to see all the different generations that have come through NRCA.” Both Young’s parents and her aunt graduated from NRCA. Young’s brother is an NRCA senior this year.  

During the evening, opportunities to participate in the Worthy Servants program were featured at a private alumni entrance, offering each alum at Homecoming the chance to see the program and participate. The program allows alumni to give back to faculty and staff members who made an impact on their lives. It includes the Worthy Servants Fund, the Worthy Servants Award, and the Worthy Servants Gratitude Messages. 

Devon Corey, Director of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, said his goal for Homecoming was to make it the largest and most meaningful alumni event. “It was important to us that the day felt like a celebration for the whole family, filled with opportunities to reconnect, make new memories, and experience the joy of being part of the NRCA community again,” he said. “Every story matters, and we want to celebrate those stories together. Whether you graduated last year or 20 years ago, you will always be part of the NRCA family, and we want to keep sharing the ways our alumni are making an impact for Christ all over the world.” 

Homecoming is a reminder of how the community continues to shape lives long after graduation. Each story reflects the faith, friendship, and family that define NRCA. As generations return year after year, one thing remains: NRCA will always be home.