Elizabeth Batanides is a happy successful freshman at Pepperdine with a special trait that sets her apart from the rest of the school: she is George Pepperdine’s great granddaughter.Batanides captivates his spirit and wholeheartedly believes in his motto “Freely Ye Receive Freely Give.” Elizabeth Pepperdine Batanides proudly upholds the family name. Her mother’s father’s father was an incredible man who her family appreciates today.Born and raised in Westlake Village Batanides walks in the shadow of a man who created something out of nothing and managed to pull through all the rough times of life.The man was George Pepperdine. “I am very proud to hear his name whenever he is being talked about Batanides said.She and her family are grateful for how her great-grandfather impacted the community. We love him and are very thankful for what he has done for us and everyone else that has been associated with Pepperdine.”Only a freshman Elizabeth has already acclimated to the campus life and happily states: “I love the environment and the people here everyone is so friendly and Christian.”Whether in chapel Convocation classrooms or in discussion among students Liz loves the community brought together through Pepperdine’s love for Christian higher education.However with such a famous and important family member comes more pressure to succeed. “Well my family always tells me to try my hardest says Batanides. And although there is a lot of pressure for me to succeed at the end of the day my family always loves me and is proud of me.”Pepperdine was always the choice for college because her parents met while attending the University. Batanides grew up hearing about it and decided it was the place for her.Elizabeth is not the only remaining Pepperdine descendent— she also has a little brother Nick Pepperdine Batanides who is 15.”I would love to have my brother come to Pepperdine. It would be great to have both of us here Batanides said.Telling friends about her family heritage does not affect Elizabeth’s decision process. I don’t know if I ever really went out of my way to tell people she said. It was more like they asked and I told them or it would come up in a conversation and I would say something to them.”She says that public knowledge of her ancestry does affect her socially. “Usually people make judgments about me without even seeing me or knowing me. Sometimes it’s good sometimes it’s bad.” Pepperdine’s great motto “Freely Ye receive Freely Give” has always resonated with Batanides. “Ever since I was little I was always taught by my parents to be grateful and give back to the world.”Batanides wants to follow her aunt’s footsteps into the fashion industry.”After I get my business degree and I graduate I want to go to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) and get a fashion degree also. Then I want to try to work at my aunt’s company.” Batanides a member of Alpha Phi does a lot of volunteering with her sorority sisters and is an active member. “Anytime we do a philanthropy event I always try to help out and get involved she said. We just raised about $10000 for cardiac care.”Elizabeth’s ancestry starts with George Pepperdine who was born in 1886 in Kansas. He founded the Western Auto Supply Co. with $5 in 1909. His business skyrocketed through the Great Depression making him a very wealthy man.George Pepperdine married first wife Lena Rose Baker and in 1916 they moved the business to Los Angeles. Lena passed away in 1930 and he then married Helen Louise Davis in 1934 .In the late ’30s George started to observe how young students had been losing their faith after participating in a higher education. He felt discouraged about the situation but was given a call of destiny for a great event.He decided that he would dedicate his life to establishing a college where higher education was taught by professors who upheld the Christian faith. In the last ten years of Pepperdine’s life his financial and physical well-being went into decline. By the time he was 73 he already began exhibiting symptoms of illness. And on July 311962 George Pepperdine passed away.The entire community grieved but celebrated the legend and the extraordinary man.Pepperdine University was established Sept. 211937 in the central Los Angeles area.For many reasons including that the South Los Angeles area had undesirable locations Pepperdine moved to Malibu which opened September 1972.Students faculty and staff expanded very quickly within the first year.The Malibu community accommodated the University which has over 800 acres in the mountains. Overlooking the beautiful ocean Pepperdine has five major schools located at this campus.George Pepperdine has influenced thousands of students as well as the members of his family. Through his dedication and calling from God Pepperdine created a grand school.
“I love knowing that I go to a school created by my great grandfather said Batanides. His legend and name will always live through our family and I couldn’t be more proud.”