“Montreat was our home away from home.”
For Rob and Natalie Schermerhorn, that statement couldn’t be truer. Though both originally came from hours away, Montreat quickly became a place of belonging and a community they have now loved and invested in for the past 50 years.
Rob, a Tampa, Fla. native, first heard about Montreat through a close family friend who taught at Montreat, Charles Massey. The two had sung together throughout the years at Rob’s home church, and when Rob began looking for colleges, Charles suggested Montreat. One visit was all it took for Rob to be committed. His two years at Montreat were so impactful that when the college became a four-year institution, he joined the first cohort, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1995.
Natalie, who grew up in Baltimore, had her own Montreat connection long before college. Her family often camped in the area, and those memories, paired with the school’s strong spiritual emphasis and its Secretarial Sciences program, made Montreat an easy choice.
Both Natalie and Rob reflect on their time at Montreat College as a foundational time in their lives.
“As a high school student, you have little direction in your life, and Montreat provided that groundwork,” asserted Rob.
Many of the friendships they formed during college have endured for decades. Their Montreat friends attended their wedding, stood beside them as bridesmaids and groomsmen, and later raised their children—and now grandchildren—together. The couple also remains connected with former professors. For example, Rob still meets weekly with Judy Wilson, Natalie’s former PE Coach.
Beyond the lifelong friendships, Montreat also gave the Schermerhorns a deep spiritual heritage. When the Schermerhorns attended Montreat, the college maintained a close connection with Montreat Presbyterian Church, now known as Christ Community Church, which is located on campus. At the time, Calvin Thielman served as both pastor of the church and as college Chaplain. The Schermerhorns were deeply invested in the church community, and today they carry that same heart for hospitality forward. They remain passionate advocates for student involvement in the church, encouraging prayer support and creating opportunities for connection, such as Oasis, a new ministry launched this year.
Montreat College and Christ Community Church also blessed the Schermerhorns with a strong, faithful community in which to raise their family. Their sons grew up surrounded by believers and inspired by the stories of missionaries sent from the cove. These stories helped them understand humanity’s deep need for salvation and the profound gift of knowing Jesus from a young age.
“You cannot duplicate the depth of a relationship with God,” Rob explained. “When someone says that God moved in their life, you cannot disprove it, but you can cling to it as a testimony of who God is. The church and college provided that for us and an example for our boys.”
Rob and Natalie raised three sons. Though they grew up near Montreat College, their parents never pressured them to attend. Only their middle son, David, chose Montreat, and it was there he met his wife, Breena. Their oldest, Stephen, attended college in Texas, but he met his wife, Jenny, through connections at Montreat. Today, all three sons have settled back home and live near one another. Seeing their children shaped by the same spiritual richness found at Montreat College and its church community has been deeply meaningful for Rob and Natalie.
When asked what has kept them rooted in Montreat for the past fifty years, Rob said simply that God never let them leave. Through the decades, they’ve witnessed seasons when the college’s future seemed uncertain, but each time, they saw God’s faithfulness sustain it. Having walked closely with Montreat through both challenges and renewal, the Schermerhorns are grateful for its continued growth, and they are optimistic about the college’s future.
“Colleges are like people when it comes to God; through the suffering is where you truly begin to grow,” Rob reflected.
“Looking back, you can see God’s hand on the school, and it has been special to have clarity around the hard times,” Natalie added. “What is also special is seeing how He worked in us through those times. His plans for us, the church, and the college seemed to be closely integrated.”
The Schermerhorns encourage students to take full advantage of the unique opportunities Montreat College offers, including inspirational guest speakers and numerous ways to grow academically and plant deep spiritual roots.
“Ground yourself in God’s Word and choose your community wisely, and the rest will fall into place,” Natalie shared.
For Rob and Natalie Schermerhorn, Montreat College may have started as a home away from home, but it quickly became the heart of their family’s story and a place they hope to remain connected to for generations to come.
“Fifty years go by quickly,” Rob said. “The fun and games are great, but what lasts are the friendships and the faith you build in those early years.”