Cameron Cortman ’22

Graduate school and year

Louisiana State University, 2023

Current city and job:

Atlanta, GA | Director of Digital Marketing, Great American Media

After graduating from Covenant with a degree in business and concentration in marketing, Cameron completed his MBA at LSU. Before that, he had interned for WORLD magazine while at Covenant and See.Spark.Go. He began running See.Spark.Go’s social media account and became a full time account coordinator and then content specialist after completing graduate school. 

While at Covenant, Cameron played tennis, was president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and a member of Covenant’s Business Club.

What first interested you in Business? 

Business is a very practical major. At Covenant, I loved how my professors incorporated their professional experiences in the business realm into the classroom. It made the concepts easier to understand and more desirable to learn when I knew that they were actually used in the business world.

Dr. Quatro and Professor Matos-Wood, professors in the business department, impacted my thinking greatly. Taking Business Ethics with Quatro constantly challenged me to consider what it looked like to be a Christian in the realm of business. Both of these professors shaped my thinking by providing real-life applications of topics in business while incorporating our higher calling to them.

How did Covenant prepare you for your calling?

Covenant has prepared me for success in my calling by teaching me and showing me that a career is not just about the money you make or earthly success, but it is about working hard in order to glorify your Heavenly Father. One of my favorite verses is Colossians 3:23 which states, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if you are serving the Lord, not man.”

Also just being at an institution where everyone around you wants to see you succeed and become the best tennis player, student, and follower of Christ you can be is a unique aspect of Covenant College and definitely prepared me for a bigger calling. Whether it was grabbing meals in the Great Hall, corporately worshiping in Chapel as an entire student body, enjoying an incredible dorm community, or simply passing someone on campus, the relationships I cultivated on this mountain were like none other, and I have not taken them for granted.

How did Covenant inform or strengthen your faith?

The Covenant faculty and students alike place an extremely high value on discipleship. At Covenant, I was challenged yet encouraged in many areas of my faith. Students are seen as more than just students but as fellow image-bearers. The mentality of growing together and pushing each other is something that is so prevalent at Covenant.

Through chapel, hall Bible studies, and small groups on athletic teams, Covenant emphasized the importance of corporate worship. Having the entire campus gather in the chapel sanctuary and lift our praises to God through worship, prayer, and teaching is an essential part of the Christian faith, which I have learned during my time at Covenant.

What was it like being a student athlete at Covenant?

Ephesians 3:20 states, "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

When I was making my college decision and the opportunity to continue playing tennis became a reality, I wanted God to do immeasurably more through that experience. Reflecting on my four years in college, I can confidently say that Covenant was the "immeasurably more" that God gave me.

Just like many Division III athletes, when I was in the midst of the recruiting process, I was stuck between whether I should attend a large state school like the University of Georgia or continue my tennis career at a smaller institution like Covenant. Walking onto campus my senior year of high school, I immediately felt a sense of home which was reinforced when I met the guys on the tennis team and head coach John Hirte. The tennis team embodied everything I was looking for in a community. Committing to play tennis at Covenant was simultaneously one of the easiest and most difficult decisions of my life. 

Why did you choose Covenant?

Like I said, when I visited campus, I was immediately overtaken by a feeling of home. I walked around the campus and was greeted by so many faculty and students who did not even know me but took the time out of their busy schedules to start conversations with me. There was a sense of warmth and joy that filled this place that no other college has.

Also one of the major benefits of attending Covenant is the perfect location. Lookout Mountain has incredible views, and hiking the numerous trails and overlooks has become one of my favorite things to do. Whether hiking to a waterfall and swimming hole or watching the sunset on an overlook, the views here never get old. One of the other benefits is the closeness to the city of Chattanooga. Chattanooga is filled with incredible restaurants, and nothing beats walking across the bridge over the river after you just got ice cream from the Ice Cream Show. On campus, you can almost always find me playing ping pong, cornhole, or spikeball with my friends.

What aspect of Covenant did you like the best?

The community at Covenant is so unlike any other place I have been. Having people in my life who constantly challenge and push me to become better in every area of life is something that I didn't know I needed until I got here. Whether it is the coaches, professors, or fellow students, everyone fulfills a commitment to calling each other to a higher standard, and for that, I am genuinely grateful.

What are some fond memories or a favorite story from your time at Covenant?

My four years at Covenant were filled with incredible accomplishments and experiences on the tennis court. From beating region opponents for the first time to making it to the conference championship, it was such a blessing to be a part of a flourishing and dedicated program. 

I am privileged that I had the chance to compete alongside some extremely talented athletes and do life with men and women of God who shared the same desire to honor the Lord in our actions on and off the court.