Taylor University FW final days

The thoughts of another college year coming to a close can often be a happy time for students, their families, and professors. Yet happy isn’t a word that’s widely being used on the campus of Taylor University Fort Wayne. Thursday, May 21 is the last day for finals, and it’s also been an emotional day on campus.

The emotion isn’t from the stress or relief from finals, but is instead from the fact that the campus will essentially close for good after Commencement on Saturday.

Graduating and non-graduating students are preparing for what's next. For many that can be seen on a decorated statue on campus. It’s been decked out in a Hawaii-type shirt and bag with a shirt that simply says “TUFW Movin' On Out” along with “Matthew 28:18-20.”

"We're all savoring this time together. It is a bittersweet time. I'd say that God has done a lot here and I'm sorry to see that it's time to move on, but we know that God will continue to do what is right and good and true," said Taylor University Fort Wayne junior Laurie Filson.

Junior Laurie Filson is saying goodbye as she prepares to head to the school's Upland campus for her senior year.

"It has been a life changing time. It is good memories. I know that I have been shaped here in ways that will change the rest of my life and how I work and how I do things," said Filson.

"It's sad that students won't have an alma mater to come back to and have homecoming," said Dr. Pam Jordan.

Dr. Pam Jordan has spent 17-years on the TUFW campus as an English professor. While she'll move to the Upland campus, that's not the case for everyone.

"I have colleagues who don't know what they're going to do after May 29. They have families to support and other colleges aren't hiring either," said Dr. Jordan

"It's sad; what we found in life is that life changes," said TUFW Parent Jeff Boster.

Jeff Boster's son will graduate Saturday, but Thursday was about moving out, and moving on.

"A lot of these students have probably experienced something that probably in time will help them in live," said Boster.

And many are now preparing for the school's final chapter.

"It's hard to say goodbye. There have been a lot of tears and I don't think any of us are looking forward to Saturday and commencement just because we know we really have to say goodbye," said Dr. Jordan

Ambassador Family Enterprises is working with Taylor to find the best use of the land after Taylor vacates. As NewsChannel 15 first told you in March, that could include education or community use. Officials say about a dozen groups have expressed interest in the land, and they hope to make an announcement about their progress next month.