Student Reflection on Veritas Forum Institute in DC

VERITAS FORUM INSTITUTE - WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 2026

FAITH KUKOYI, CLASS OF ‘30

Being hosted by the Veritas Institute this summer in Washington, D.C., was one of the most enriching experiences of college life so far. I was immersed in a culture of Christian intellectualism with like-minded undergraduates, enjoying deep conversations about the human experience. Throughout the week, we attended coaching sessions with top scholars from a variety of fields and universities, where I had the opportunity to develop skills in approaching a secular audience with a Christian message.

Our time in D.C. was characterized by the practice of scholé: the Greek word for undistracted learning, in a beautiful place with good friends. This is the type of restful learning that creates space for seeking answers to deep questions separate from the rushed modernity and pressures of typical university life. Finding ourselves in a fast-moving, high-achieving city, we were a breath of fresh air pushing against the culture surrounding us. It was incredibly formative to have the privilege of conversing with such intelligent students from many other top universities. I formed so many relationships and had many great conversations that were intellectually stimulating, but also the type where the conversational depth felt like it was healing your soul.

We had wonderful academic lectures, where each new piece of information was pure gold— the type of treasure that cannot be found in an ordinary university classroom. Part of our time was spent talking about A.I. ethics, hearing from professionals in the industry, and breaking down the layers of how it is programmed and trained. A framework was provided that challenged the way I view technology and human dignity, as I learned the answers that the Christian worldview has for such philosophical questions. In another discussion, we focused on medical ethics and were taught how to approach a contentious topic such as physician-assisted suicide from a biblical framework. In addition to coaching on writing and journalism, we also had time to reflect on the words of many historical Christian philosophers, including Saint Augustine and Pascal. Each discussion was a refreshing time that left me inspired to create habits of the intellectual life outside of my university courses, and dive into whatever sparks my interest for the blissful enjoyment of study.

I left Veritas so excited to see even a fragment of such a rich and developing experience at Rice University. Veritas equipped me to enter the academic sphere, confident in my ability to influence without moral compromise. I believe that the Rice Christian Study Center’s partnership with the Veritas Forum will be the perfect pathway to help students bridge their Christian faith with their academic study while inspiring an intellectual craving in students. It will create the space for students to ask deep human questions, unafraid, and provide a theological background for the experiences of the Christian life.

Behind the scenes . . .

This summer, Faith Kukoyi represented the Rice Christian Study Center at the Veritas Forum Institute in Washington, D.C.—an intensive program that gathers undergraduate leaders from top universities to explore how the Christian faith speaks thoughtfully and credibly within the academy. Hosted by the Veritas Forum, a national organization dedicated to fostering honest dialogue about life’s hardest questions, the Institute equips students to engage their peers with intellectual rigor, spiritual depth, and cultural awareness.

Through seminars with leading scholars, training in communication and writing, and sustained conversations with fellow students, Faith was immersed in a vision of Christian witness that is both deeply rooted and publicly engaged. Her experience comes at a pivotal moment for us, as we begin a strategic partnership with the Veritas Forum to bring this kind of thoughtful, faith-and-learning engagement to Rice’s campus. Best of all, we are getting to work with Timothy Crouch, Rice Class of ‘19 at Veritas Forum.