Honor, Courage and Commitment: One student’s pursuit of a life of excellence, leadership, and faithfulness at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
This May, Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) student Jacob Friess will accomplish two major life goals. He will graduate from PBA and be commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.
Friess is one of 47 graduates of the Honors Program this spring. He has earned the distinction of being recognized as an Outstanding Graduate in this program. When selecting an Outstanding Graduate, faculty members look for the most reliable worker, as well as a great thinker, and writer.
“Jake’s original insights often elevate the level of class discussion, and his classmates and professors all benefit from his contributions,” said Dr. Tom St. Antoine, director of the Frederick M. Supper Honors Program.
Dedicated to becoming a future Marine officer, Friess chose to pursue a double major of pre-Law and politics. His conviction was tested when he was offered a lucrative scholarship to join the Army. Friess ultimately declined, choosing instead to follow his calling to become a Marine.
That decision shaped his college experience. Alongside a demanding academic schedule, Friess spent summers and weekends completing military training at Officer Candidate School or OCS, and, at some points, worked two jobs. His commissioning ceremony this May will mark years of discipline, sacrifice, and determination.
Balancing Academics and Hardships
Friess credits his success to the support he received at PBA. Scholarships such as the Ferrin Scholarship and the Presidential Scholarship made his education possible, while his professors played a vital role in his growth. They invested in him beyond the classroom, offering guidance and encouraging him as he faced big life struggles.
Some of what he learned in his honors courses were especially timely. For example, while he was taking a class on C.S. Lewis and reading “The Problem of Pain,” Friess endured his most difficult life challenge.
One Christmas break, while Friess was home and at the dinner table, his father had a medical emergency that required him to be rushed to the hospital. What family members thought was a stroke actually turned out to be brain cancer. Though his father was only given six months to live, he outlasted the doctor’s predictions, eventually passing 18 months later in September 2025. Balancing grief with academic and military training was one of the hardest seasons he faced. Yet through it, Friess persevered to honor his dad’s memory and grow in his faith.
Semper Fidelis
Amid that hardship, Friess also experienced one of life’s greatest joys, married in May 2025. He met his wife, Faith, in a freshman literature class and built a relationship that carried them through the ups and downs of college life. This spring, Faith will also walk at commencement as the Outstanding Graduate of the School of Nursing, making this life milestone especially meaningful for both of them.
Looking ahead, Friess hopes to serve as a logistics officer in the Marine Corps, combining his education with his passion for leadership and service. Ultimately, his goal reaches beyond a career. “I strive to be both a warrior in the USMC and in the Kingdom of God,” he proudly said. Jacob Friess’ story reflects his honor, courage, and commitment to his family, the Corps, and God.
This calling is grounded in his favorite Bible verse, Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well.” It is a principle that has guided his journey and will continue to shape his future.
For more information on PBA’s Honors Program, visit https://www.pba.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/honors/.
