LDS student thrives at Community of Christ's university

The choice of college was obvious to Terra Paialii's family: an LDS-operated school. But it didn't turn out that way.

Now Paialii, of Independence, Mo., is a student body president, completing what she says is "the best college experience" at Graceland University, run by the Community of Christ.

With high school graduation nearing, Paialii was pinched between the choice her family wanted or "following a peaceful feeling" that pointed to Graceland University.

"It was confusing," Paialii said. "But after much prayer and scripture study the answer became apparent."

Graceland University in south-central Iowa is both a school and a second home for its students, drawing an international crowd that makes up 17 percent of its student body.

Randy Meline, director of media relations, said the school has an assortment of activities and facilities suited to students' needs, allowing them to remain on campus without having to trek 80 miles to the nearest city. More importantly, Meline said, "the school is an opportunity for transformational change."

"I knew the Lord had something bigger in store for me that I could not comprehend," Paialii said.

Careful preparation in her youth ensured eventual entry to a world that held big opportunities.

"Tennis is your future," her stepfather, Sione Faletau, said to Paialii when she was 12.

Paialii said, "So many times I wanted to quit because I wanted to hang out with friends. Tennis taught me to persevere."

"You have 12 minutes left to hit as many balls as you can," Faletau told her then.

The lights above the court would go off 12 minutes later, ending practice for the night and beginning a scavenger hunt in the dark for 80 tennis balls.

The practice paid off with a sports scholarship to college.

"I was struck immediately by her," said Jerry Hampton, Graceland's tennis coach, who recruited Paialii. "You would want her on any group that you had."

Hampton said Paialii had strong athletic skills matched with a winning personality. He was hopeful yet highly uncertain whether she would choose Graceland University over strong alternatives such as BYU-Provo or BYU-Idaho.

Paialii chose the underdog.