Josh Turnquest ’20

Nationally-ranked athlete; mathematician; musician — Joshua Turnquest ’20 is multi-faceted to say the least. And having experienced the richness of Asbury University’s liberal arts experience, he says it’s the perfect place to grow in body, mind and soul.  

Originally from Nassau, Bahamas, Turnquest took a gap year after graduating high school. His outstanding talent in tennis opened the door for professional tournaments around the world — he was actually competing in Turkey when he received a recruiting call from Men’s Tennis Coach Jarred Miller. Even at such a long distance, Asbury’s reputation for spiritual vitality clinched the deal.

“I felt like this was where I was supposed to go,” Turnquest said. “Talking about Chapel and spirituality, I thought, ‘This will be great; I will be able to share my faith and grow spiritually.’”

As an Eagle, Turnquest continued to develop his outstanding tennis talent. In 2017, he was the is the No. 10 ranked singles player in the East Region and 32nd in the national rankings. In the previous season, he was also the River States Conference Player of the Year and NAIA Second Team All-American.

“Tennis doesn’t even feel like something I want to do; it’s something I have to do, and I love it,” Turnquest said. “I always try to remember what cause I am playing for — and ultimately, it’s God, because he gave me this gift.”

As a Computational Mathematics major, Turnquest has also pursued academic excellence at Asbury. In Asbury’s tight-knit Math Department, he’s experienced opportunities like Math Modeling — an annual tradition that allows students to collaborate on complex problems — and the mentorship of outstanding faculty like Dr. Dave Coulliette.

Turnquest is also a musician, frequently using his talents in worship during Chapel. He also enjoys helping lead worship at Church Under the Bridge, a homeless ministry in Lexington, Ky. The first time he visited, he felt a connection.

“When I went, I was like ‘Wow’ — just to talk with some of the people, seeing them getting involved when we would play,” Turnquest said. “ I would play things they grew up singing. Just seeing a smile on their face in that moment, I was like, ‘I have to do this.’”

Looking to the future, Turnquest hopes to pursue a career in civil engineering or a pilot in the mission field — or both.  Like many Asburians, he can remember a pivotal moment in Chapel that inspired his vision for the future.

“It was Great Commission Congress during my freshman year, and I had a moment where I realized what actually matters,” Turnquest said. “The Scripture hit me — love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself.’ And in that moment, I thought, whether in an office job or in the mission field, I want to help people any way I can.”