Edward VanZandt

Eddie, you are not allowed to leave.

For real.

I won’t let it happen.

Dang, I am going to miss you! It has been such a pleasure having you in Lewis. You are leaving this House and me better than when you found us. Thanks for an incredible four years. You are a good man and I am so proud of you. Congrats on graduating!

Congratulations, Eddie! King’s will not be the same without you. Your steady presence, energy, and willingness to serve made you a central figure to our community. Those traits will also lead to great success in life. God bless you, friend.

Eddie! You’re the only person I know who can say “ma’am” and not have it sound rude in NYC. I will miss your incredible willingness and eagerness to help those around you. You brought so much joy and energy to the events team, and we will not be the same without you. Congratulations on finishing the race of college well!

Eddie! Thank you for your service to King’s in your time as a student. I have never met someone with so much energy and strength and love for the community as much as you. Also, I’m really glad you served as Chamberlain your sophomore year. It was great to get to know you that year! Congrats on graduation!

Remember that time you rushed back in to a (potentially) burning building to make sure other students were OK? That’s when I knew you were going to be a Chamberlain and started lamenting the loss to debate. But low and behold, you continued to stick around debate as well and even served in leadership there too! Thanks for all the work, the stories, and the friendship.

Eddie!

Thank you for bringing an incredible spirit to our team this year. Your willingness to work the ship however needed was a true sight to behold. Top marks. Your pies are also delicious. I wish you fair winds!

Eddie,

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Also, may you always remember what’s in your toolkit. It’s not just for computers you know.

It has been a joy knowing you Eddie, but don’t be a stranger! I’ll miss your history rants and your bright and constant joy. Good luck in all your future endeavors!

Thank you for all your help during the visit weekends! You were always so faithful and helpful. Well done and congratulations! Happy Graduation!

Eddie! Congrats my friend! It’s absolutely insane to think that we finally made it. We’re graduating! I will always remember the long history talks we had, the pubs we went too, and of course the cursed bookcase of Apt 2017. It has been so much fun being your friend and I can’t wait to destroy more bookcases with you!
Keep in touch!!!

Eddie!! Thanks for being so cool, and for randomly popping in people’s rooms to randomly cook and serve potatoes. King’s will miss you!

Dear Eddie,

I know you will miss King’s College & your love for New York as you move on in life. I thank Jesus for such a wonderful experience. Love You!

Grandma

To my dear nephew,
Eddie, I am so proud of the bright, intelligent, and kind young man you’ve become. The sky’s the limit for you. Congratulations on this momentous accomplishment! Much love,
Aunt Rebecca

Congratulations Eddie!

Your mother and I are so proud of the amazing young man you’ve become. We also thank God that you found such an awesome place like King’s to bloom and grow. What an unpredictable ride it has been—but see how your trust in the Lord has paid off!

We look forward to following the adventures in the next chapter of your life. It brings us great pleasure to see how your hard work and effort has earned you good grades and opened incredible opportunities for you—but it’s the character, compassion, and integrity that you have refined along your journey that really make us proud!

God bless!

Congratulations Eddie! Now I know why you were so good at those bible school skits!!

Eddie, I don’t even know where to begin. I have told you so many times how grateful I am for you, but I am going to tell you again. Your friendship has been one of the greatest blessings to me. Thank you for the many pies that you brought Daiya and I, and for all of the adventures that you brought me on and tagged along with. You may not have been expecting Nashville or craft parties but I am grateful that you were there for it all. You are going to be so dearly missed at King’s. I can’t wait for our next adventure.
I love you lots!!

Eddie!

Congratulations man! You’ve been such a joy to be around both in classes and out of them. You’ve become known on campus for your beard and flag, but to me you’ll always be that witty Irishman who took me to the pub after a bad day. Your no-nonsense attitude was so refreshing and your care for others is evident. Great job man! I know you’ll find great success in your future endeavors!

Eddie, I will always remember seeing your Irish flag at every Great Race and powderpuff game. Thank you for always being so joyful. I hope this next season of life is filled with many more joyous moments. 🙂

We knew you when…but when is now! And now is a future bright with endless possibilities. Time to show the world what you’ve got!

Love
Uncle Howie

Dear Eddie,

I’m so proud of you!! It’s been so fun watching you accomplish so much. I’m sorry your senior year didn’t look how you imagined, but seeing all of these comments really show you put a special mark on Kings College. I feel so lucky to have had a chance to visit and see where you have spent the last 4 years. Many blessings for your future. I know you will do great things. We love you,
Aunt Jackie and Uncle David

Eddie! (or should I say Coach?) Thanks for all your hours on the field. Powderpuff would not have been the same without you.

Eddie! You have served our community well with your fervor for order and truth, and your contagious humor. When you walked into Murphy’s with that cap and green knit sweater and ordered a shepherds pie, I felt like kindred spirits. THANK YOU for your service and friendship!

Eddie!

First off, congrats! I met you at one of Marisa’s game nights my first year and didn’t really know you, but I’m so glad we became friends this year. I’m going to miss hearing your hot takes on class (especially the amazing train wreck that was IE) and crazy stories. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, kindness, and noticing when your friends may need some extra help. I wish you all the best in your life after King’s.

(Ha, remember when you carved a bell pepper?)

Eddie! From the little I’ve been at King’s, you’ve been a huge part of the House of Lewis. Thank you for your service and spirit. Bummed not to have gotten more time with you.

EDDIE. My fellow ginger. My fellow Celt. My fellow snarky classmate. I saw you carrying around that flag freshman year and knew I wanted to be your friend. You have such a beautiful brain and you are a phenomenal friend. I am so so so grateful to have had you by my side through this WILD ride. You are so smart it’s a little scary, and have such a pure heart. Keep the faith, love you dearly.

Eddie! Congrats man! I am going to miss seeing your happy face around campus! Best of luck in everything. Don’t be a stranger!

Eddie, my guy. It has been a wild ride. I shall miss the history and life discussions at one of the local Irish consulates. We should walk to CN Tower again soon. In the meantime, have fun drawing maps, and don’t have too much fun in St. Louis.

The Valmeyer VanZandt himself! The fact that we are friends doesn’t really make sense with our personalities, and it probably wouldn’t have happened if not for bed bugs freshmen year, but I wouldn’t want to have experienced college with anyone else as a roommate. From the late-night talks about a maximum wage to the history rants (based in fact or fiction), there was never a dull moment in the apt.

I’ve settled into working full time and you’re about to become a spy (sorry analyst). There is a lot about the future that is unclear but I know our friendship will last. Maybe I’ll even charter that boat. See you in Israel.

P.S. Not sorry about the photo. This snapshot of history must too be preserved for posterity.

Oh Eddie,

My dear friend, you have left such an imprint on my life. College would not have been what it has been so far without you. From attempting to lead an Inviso group through Times Square, to roadtripping to Nashville, to tossing a football at Fall Retreat, to almost embarking on a modern pilgrimage to Dublin for St. Pádraig’s Day, we’ve had some fun times. Your faith has been such an inspiration to my own, and I’ve always admired your humility and passion in the way you follow Christ and serve others. I’ll miss bumping into you in the lobby, but I’m excited for you as you embark on this next journey. Like Joan, may Christ continue to grant you the strength and courage to fight the good fight and be a light to those around you. Cheers to a job well done!

Eddie, I am really going to miss you at school. Thank you for all the laughs during long weekend events that we worked, the random history lessons, and keeping me focused in International. I wish you the very best in your post-grad pursuits. Here’s to a promotion that will send you to DC and to an office with windows! Cheers!

Eddie,

I will never forget your commitment to the soccer team four years ago. Your support in the background to us on the field said more about your character than some can show in 10 years. I am HONORED to have attended the same school as you and I will never forget the example you have set. You have showed me true leadership and I hope to emulate that. I respect you deeply and I look forward to seeing all you accomplish in for the Lord in the future.

Eddie! Thankful to know you and your kind heart. I will forever be thankful for the love you showed the House of ten Boom, helping me with Bowery days, and getting to know more about you these last four years. I wish you the best!

I distinctly remember the time when we first met. I sitting in your apartment with Lance and you were telling me a story of WWII. You love history, no doubt. But even further, you love to tell stories! You are a wonderful and captivating story teller. Further! You love God. Further! You love the school. Being on the Council I had an inside scoop to seeing how much you contribute to school, and all I can say is you are an admirable fellow. So proud to graduate alongside you my friend!

Eddie, your gift for quiet service is unmatched. I have watched you pour tremendously into the King’s community, and so many people have been blessed by your kindness. I will always remember your kindness to Ten Boom in our sophomore spring semester. I admire how you stand up for what you believe is right, even if no one else does, and how hard you are willing to work to achieve change. I know you will do wonderful things wherever you end up. I will always be glad that I shared my time at King’s with you!

Eddie, thank you for all of your hard work and contributions to the Debate team and to Events and so much more! We will miss your positive spirit! You have worked so hard to get to this point. Congratulations and blessings!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Hi Eddie, you do not know me but I met with your Dad in Bagram Afghanistan.
Your Dad is a great spirit and a wonderful human being, one never saw him depressed, always smiling and telling jokes!!
I have read what your friends and family wrote about you!! All I can say is that you are trully a chip of the old block!! May the Lord God keep you safe and bless you in abundance!!!
Thank you to your parents for raising soch a beautiful young man!!!

Eddie, you are an institution! You were one of the first friends I made in the House way back in Aug 2016. I’m so happy and honored to have gotten to know you over the past four years. You’re genuine, caring, and courageous. I’m really excited to see what God has in store for you. I’m honored to be fellow “Men with Chests.”

Eddie,
Good to have you as a student in PWS this spring. Your knowledge of history and foreign policy is strong and your facility with facts is impressive. I appreciate your unconventional approach. I know you will go far and make us proud. You already have. “Oh Lord, teach us to number our days so that we may present to you, a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12.
Best Wishes,
Prof. Glader

My crazy cousin Eddie,

You did it! I’m so happy you were able to have a great college experience in NYC even if it did not end as planned. The stories you told me over the holiday breaks would always make me laugh so hard. Cherish those times as you transition into the next stage of life. You’ve grown into such an awesome person, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Congratulations!

Julia

Eddie, thank you so much for bringing your enthusiasm to the hallways, courts and fields of TKC. I wish you nothing but the best, congratulations and God bless you!

Eddie,

I don’t remember when exactly I met you, but I am so glad that I did! You have been a great friend and you always managed to make any event more enjoyable just by you being there! I rarely laugh as much as I do when you tell stories as you have a way of bringing them to life and you have had some of the most interesting and bizarre life experiences. Kings will not be the same without you!

I know that you are going to move on to do great things!

Congratulations though!

Eddie,
A fearless navigator, lover of obscure history, the only person I know (other than myself) who embellishes with expletives, ardent seeker of the truth, a founding member of The Council, and my sole witness to Canadian Police Brutality thank you for the last four years of stories and congratulations on finishing this chapter of life!
Though New York feels emptier without you in it, I am so happy you found a job where you flourish with a boss that has faith in your abilities. I look forward to our many future Irish consulate meetings and conversations about life and if the time ever comes, to be your second in a duel.

Dear Eddie,

Congratulations on your graduation! We are so proud of you and all your accomplishments. I am so glad I had the opportunity to visit you in New York. You are clearly in your element there! I love your stories, your knowledge on historical events, and your willingness to be a servant leader. I look forward to seeing where the future takes you and I can’t wait to hear about your new adventures!
Love you!
Aunt Kathy & Uncle Lonnie

Eddie, I will always admire your expertise in history! You never fail to share an interesting fact about the ancient world. It was an honor to survive these crazy classes with you. I know that you will achieve great things and I pray that God blesses you in this next chapter of your life!

Congrats Eddie! Your presence at school and games brought so many smiles to so many people! Good luck on the next adventure

Eddie, I only wish that I would’ve gotten to know you sooner! I admire your love of King’s, learning, and history. Your dedication to the school and other students makes you a true leader. You are honorable, steadfast, and humble. Just seeing you at school always put a smile on my face! Congrats!

EDDIE!!! Congratulations! I’m thankful to have known you for the last four years and excited to see where you go in life cause I know you will go far! You are an incredible man and I wish you all the best in the future!

Eddie,

I am proud to have seen you grow up and become the man that you are. Though life doesn’t deal us the cards we expected this year. I know you will take life by the throat and wrestle it to the ground and come up on top. I look forward to seeing at work and see you shine in your career.

Todd

Eddie!!! Congratssss!! You are a man of such honor, faith, and integrity. I am so glad to know you and get to graduate alongside you. You serve wholeheartedly and are so dedicated to all that you do. Thanks for sharing your love of wings and all things Irish. I know you’ll be successful wherever you go because you love God and love people :).

Eddie, no King’s event would have been complete without you and the Irish flag. I’m so glad I got to study history in Dr. Brand’s classes with you, and will fondly remember every strange conversation at those library tables. I can’t wait to see where God takes you in the coming months!

Eddie, you are an icon. King’s will be a very different place without your enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, and care (not to mention your flag-waving abilities). You are a man of quality, which is something the world is desperate for. I will never forget the infamous St. Patrick’s Day party at West my first year. It has been a pleasure to know you. I can’t wait to see what you and your shock of red hair again sometime!

Edward, I am a bit late in writing this note to you, but I wanted to congratulate you on earning your degree and on your high level of academic achievement in the courses that you took with me. It was always a pleasure to have you in class, and thank you for sharing your knowledge and perspective on so many occasions. Wishing you many blessings in the years ahead. Please stay in touch!

The Hammer. Eddie you are one of the most selfless souls I have ever met and it will forever be a model to me in my life. I will always cherish the time I had to get to know you. I will never forget the first day of preseason when you showed up in a suit and tie and I had no idea what was going on or even if you were on the team or if you were a Mormon or something. Little did I know it was because you didn’t have any room in your suitcase for it. I will always cherish that memory and I pray you never stop being you. You are gonna do great things and please stay in touch. Love you man.

House

House

Achievements

Athletics

Notes for Edward