Lewis Mission Moment: Welcome Home Carley

“All that I hope to be, the Lewis community has inspired in me: passion for service, advocacy for justice, love of community, and an undying excitement for learning."

At the age of 17, Carley Maupin (’19) stepped foot onto the Lewis campus for the first time. A compassionate girl with a dream – and an unmistakable competitive edge – she had a number of universities she could have chosen, but the moment she came to Lewis, she felt at home.

Even though Carley knew she was in the right place, she didn’t fully understand what Lewis was all about until she became a student and an active member of the Lewis community.

“Each year I see myself as a LaSallian even more,” Carley explains. “My professors have helped me to see that I can do bigger things at a larger scale if I push myself and face the challenges ahead.”

Doing “bigger things” while living out the LaSallian mission is exactly what Carley has been doing. Carley is working towards identifying treatments that will benefit those who have been victim to sexual violence. Through her current internship as a Student Researcher at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, she is researching the relationship between sexual violence and a person’s wellness over time. Essentially, she is trying to predict how individuals who have experienced sexual violence may react to different interventions. Carly’s unique experience will have a ripple effect on countless lives.

Carley is confident: “We can make the world a better place,” she states. But she knows that she isn’t doing it alone.

“I’m able to have opportunities at Lewis such as this internship because of the generosity of others,” the soon-to-be-college-senior says. “I’m very humbled and grateful for the opportunities donors have made possible.” Because someone believed in her enough to grant her a scholarship, Carley is doing big things, with dreams of continuing on to graduate school, becoming a LaSallian volunteer, or joining the Peace Corps. Her future is bright and open – and she fully intends to pay it back.

“At some point in my life, I’m going to be one of them,” Carley says, referring to the donors who helped her.

No matter where Carley goes to make an impact, she will remember Lewis as “home.”  Students who care, turn into alumni who care. Good Luck in all your research and living out the Lasallian mission, Carley!

Lewis Mission Moments - The Journey to Graduation

At Lewis, we see many faces cross the stage at commencement, each of them with a special story about how they arrived at this day.

In December 2017, we met Suzette Foscett. Suzette’s journey culminated in the center of that brightly lit stage as thousands of faces watched from the floor. To most, she is just another graduate. To her family, she is a role model. To Lewis, she is the inspiration for students of any age who dream of completing their degree – no matter how long it takes.

Suzette’s graduation was a long-time dream. Her daughter and her granddaughter – who were Lewis graduates already – were on hand to celebrate the occasion, along with other members of their family. And celebrate they did! Suzette’s guests said that she has sacrificed throughout her life to make sure her children were taken care of and educated. They were beyond excited to see her achieving her own dreams of an education as well.

Suzette, through smiles and maybe a few tears, noted that even though she’s 64, she’s thrilled to be a college graduate herself.

“I did it, and I’m so glad! I’ve always wanted to do this, but my children’s needs came first, as they should,” said Suzette. “But now it’s my turn, and I just cannot thank everyone enough for their encouragement and support towards this day!”

In the words of St. John Baptist De La Salle: “Preach by example, and practice before the eyes of the young what you wish them to accept.” (Med 99.2 - on the life of St John Chrysostom) 

Congratulations, Suzette, and thank you for being an example for others.

Lewis Mission Moments - A Lifetime of Memories

Sita Patel, student

"I am truly honored and grateful to be the recipient of the Livingston Family Endowment for Study Abroad Scholarship for my semester abroad in Spain this past spring. The generosity of donors in providing this scholarship has given me the amazing opportunity to enhance my educational and cultural experience abroad. On a personal note, I am the last in my family to attend college, and as the youngest of three children, I hope to make my parents proud as their last child walks across the stage in two and a half years. My experience at Lewis so far has been filled with many joyous memories and unique opportunities. I took U.S.-Latino Literature my second semester of freshman year, and the course taught me a lot about the Latinos in the Western Hemisphere. It prompted me to want to study abroad in Spain to learn about the Spanish history in the Eastern Hemisphere. After I graduate from Lewis, I am hoping to teach Spanish in a high school setting in the state of Illinois. The experience was amazing, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have experienced another culture and country to enhance my education."

Want to see more photos and read about Sita's educational adventure? Visit sitasabroad.blogspot.com.

 

 

Lewis Mission Moments: Lauren Grady '16 - "Find Your Passion"

“My greatest piece of advice is to find your passion and go after it,” says Lauren Grady '16. “Don’t let self-doubt get in the way of what you’re meant to do. Believe in yourself and use your God-given talents to positively affect those around you.”

Lauren Grady is the type of person whose passion for helping others is evident in everything she does – and she certainly does a lot. As a Lewis student, Lauren could be seen constantly bouncing from one activity to the other. What made her truly stand out, however, was not the amount of activities she was involved in, but the dedication and compassion behind them.

Even though Lauren was extremely active at Lewis, it still took her time, and a few tries, to find her ultimate passion. When Lauren first stepped foot on campus, she was determined to be a teacher. However, that changed quickly after joining the school newspaper, the Lewis Flyer, where she fell in love with to journalism and switched her major. After spending a year with the school newspaper, Lauren decided to give something else a try. She landed on a major in international business with a minor in marketing and Spanish.

In addition to exploring her newfound major, Lauren made lifelong friends through her love of soccer. She was a star soccer player throughout her four years and was even joined by her younger sister Kelly on the soccer team. Even in the midst of the busyness, Lauren still managed to handle her schedule and help those around her. “I learned to find a balance between having fun and being in school,” Lauren says. It allowed me to focus on what's most important.” 

Because of her passion for helping others, Lauren got involved with peer ministry. As a peer minister, she was able to connect with others and make them feel welcome. 

“The community was incredibly supportive,” she recalls. “They make you feel important, like you’re the right person for the job”. Throughout her years, and her changes, Lewis was there for her and its mission is what led her to be the positive leader she is today.

Last June, Lauren was appointed District Manager of Aldi in Woodridge, IL. For a year prior, Lauren traveled from state to state and district to district, learning about her company and about how to manage her own district. This position at Aldi has allowed Lauren to show her leadership skills – skills that were started on Lewis’ campus.

Reflecting on her journey, Lauren says, “Being thrown lots of responsibility right out of school was really nice. It gave me the opportunity to make hard decisions – and to do what’s right, rather than just what’s easier.”

At the end of the day, Lauren’s goal is to be a positive leader – and to develop the people around her.

Her vast experiences at Lewis got her to where she is now, but it was Lewis’ mission and passion for people that shaped her to be the leader she is. 

Written by Montana Clasby '16, Advancement Communications Graduate Assistant