Lewis Mission Moment: Jared and Jill Reynolds – Lewis Sweethearts Reunited

It wasn't the planes at Lewis that brought them together, but an aviation encounter off-campus ignited a spark between two Flyers.

As Jill was getting off her flight in Cleveland, Jared was waiting to board at the same terminal gate. Four years after graduation, fate brought them back together and the loving couple is celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary!

“I have been in love with Jared for more than half of my life!” says Jill. “I knew we were meant to be together the moment I saw him.”

After being reunited, they knew there was only one real answer as to where they should get married. With a love of Lewis and a gratefulness for what they found here, Jared and Jill decided to get married right here on the Lewis University campus. They said their vows in the Sancta Alberta Chapel on Valentine’s Day in 2004. Shortly after, they purchased a brick in the Heritage Circle outside of the chapel to commemorate their special day.

But there's more to the story than just wedding bells and fairytales. As students at Lewis, Jill worked in the library and wrote for the school newspaper, while Jared ran both Track and Field and Cross Country in addition to several hours of flying. In between all of the classes and activities, the two found time to spend together. Though they went their separate ways, their happily ever after was never too far out of reach.

“All of my professors, especially Sister Lifka, were so involved in my education. They did not just teach and usher us all on to the next class. They really took the time to get to know us and wanted to see us succeed,” says Jill. Both Jill and Jared received scholarships and other forms of financial assistance which allowed them to continue reaching their goals here at Lewis. It is something they’ve never forgotten.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in History, Jill went on to earn her MBA from the University of Memphis and now owns a project management consulting company. Jared graduated with bachelor’s degrees in both Aviation Administration and Aviation Flight Management, and is now a pilot for United Airlines. Now, they live in Tennessee with their 9-year old son. They love to travel different places and experience new adventures as a family.

And there's more. Their love has turned into a lasting legacy here at Lewis– a fairytale that will star a new student every year thanks to a scholarship they’ve created. They want to make a difference in the lives of future Flyers for generations to come – through their scholarship.

“I know a scholarship can have an impact on somebody, because it had one on me. To be able to help another student in the same way means a lot to the both of us,” Jill adds.

And maybe, just maybe, that student here on their scholarship – able to stay in school because of the financial assistance – will find their own true love in one of their classrooms, or the Den, or maybe even at an athletic game. And it will all be thanks to two people who found love, and are sharing it with the place that brought them together.

Lewis Mission Moment: Erin Reichert '05 - The "Mom" of Bluffton High

Erin Reichert receives the Milken Educator Award at a surprise assembly, surrounded by her students.

When Bluffton High students in South Carolina were asked which teacher they would most likely refer to as “mom,” there was little debate that it would be Mrs. Reichert. It comes as no surprise when you hear about the unique and personal ways in which Erin (Clemmons) Reichert (’05) connects with her students and inspires a passion for learning. In fact, Reichert’s teaching philosophy has not only won the affection of her students, but has also earned her the Milken Educator Award – referred to by many as the “Oscar” of teaching.

Nevertheless, Reichert will be the first to tell you that this was never part of her plan. “You never know what your story is going to be,” Reichert says. “I thought I was going to be a lifer in Chicago. But my journey came from out of the blue.”

Reichert grew up in Illinois and planned to stay there for her entire life. She started her teaching career in Chicago, where she learned from an incredible teaching staff. For her, it was truly a dream job. Right after she finished her bachelor’s degree, she went to Lewis University for her master’s degree in school counseling. But halfway through the program, she started wondering if she even wanted to do school counseling. As God would have it, it is a degree that she uses daily in her teaching and interactions with her students – including her very first day of teaching: September 11, 2001.

“What I learned at Lewis makes me think of my students in a different way, using counseling skills to incorporate ease into their minds,” Reichert explains. “It led to the person I am in the school – not just a content teacher, but someone who can relate to them differently and talk to them about college, goals, and life. They know that I am going to focus on them as a person and that I care more about their character and living up to their potential than their specific grades."

Reichert’s plan also took a turn when she married and moved with her husband to South Carolina. She left her dream job and moved to a new state where she, in the beginning, felt out of place. She really struggled – until she stopped wishing she was in Chicago and realized that her own “transplant” helped her to better relate to her students, many of whom had moved from other states themselves or, in some way, felt out of place in their lives.

Through life’s twists and turns, Reichert ultimately held on to what she learned at Lewis. She takes the time to instill in her students a confidence in themselves. Sometimes they don’t see their own potential, so she helps them to see it. In her history classes, and the Youth and Government program she spearheads, she gets her students genuinely excited to learn and actively engaged – not only in the classroom, but also in the community. Many of her students have gone on to work in government or become active community members and citizens. Many students have come back to her to tell her that she is the reason they are who they are. For Reichert, that’s what teaching is all about. While she boasts an impressive list of learning opportunities and programs for her students, at the end of the day, her approach towards her students as unique individuals is what made her the “mom” of Bluffton High.

And Reichert’s approach was noticed by more than just her students. In 2018, she received the Milken Educator Award during a surprise assembly in her honor. The prestigious award, which includes a gift of $25,000, is given to early-to-mid career education professionals who display excellence in education and promise for the future. Currently, an American Educator Museum is being built which faces the White House and will display Milken Award winners, Reichert included.

Reichert was shocked when she learned she was a recipient of the award. But, in her typical fashion, she acknowledged that the award was about her students, not her. From receiving a student-centered Lewis education to becoming a truly student-centered educator, Reichert daily lives out the Lewis mission to transform the lives of her students through inclusive community, quality education, and a respect for the dignity of each individual. In other words, Reichert truly is the “mom” of Bluffton High.

Click here to watch the video of Reichert receiving the Milken Educator Award.

Lewis Mission Moment: Megan Zeugner '15 Is On A Mission

Sometimes you find your calling at a young age.

“Combining my love for teaching with my love to travel and my heart for mission is what brought me to my current position as a volunteer missionary teacher in Cairo, Egypt,” says Megan Zeugner ’15, Elementary Education.

It is true what they say: you never know where life will take you. For Megan, her journey began in Joliet and led her to Cairo. She always knew she wanted to be a teacher and she wanted to travel, and throughout college went on many mission trips.

“I love my work inside the classroom, but the best moments are sometimes those spent outside the classroom where students are more themselves and can feel freer to share more personal aspects of their own journey of growing up. I love being able to impact the lives of the students who attend St. Clare's College.”

During her time at St. Clare’s College in Cairo, Megan has had great success teaching students English and many other skills. Megan is motivated by her ability to impact the education system in Egypt and motivate and teach young women in the Middle East that they “have a voice and can influence change”.

One particular moment will stick with her forever. A little girl who was not able to come to school because the buses were not running in her area sent Megan a voice message about the upcoming prince/princess themed day, speaking in near-perfect English. “Hello, Ms. Megan, I love you because I missed you and I dreamed of you, but I will come for the princess day and I will be so happy to come.”

The message melted Megan’s heart. “It was a special moment of pride for me to more fully understand how my teaching at the school was truly having an impact on the lives of my students.”

Megan’s advice to others is an echo from St. Pope John Paul II: “Do not be afraid”, she says. “Had I been afraid or listened to the fears of others, I would not be teaching in the Middle East, I would not have had the experiences and adventures I have had in my life, and I would not be the young woman I am today.” Her advice to fellow educators is reminiscent of St. John Bosco: “Education is a matter of the heart. Don’t forget this, as it makes all the difference!”

Working in the Middle East comes with its challenges. For Megan, the most difficult aspect of her job is the language and cultural barriers with the other teachers she works with. She is still working on her Arabic and teaching other educators how to adapt to the Salesian style of education. (The Salesian Sisters are who run the school.) However, her reliance on Christ, as well as the Sisters she works with and the students and families she is serving, get her through the toughest of days. At the end of the day Megan knows that “I am truly making a difference in the life of another person”.
During her time at Lewis, Megan got involved in many groups on campus. She was a member and board member of the Gospel choir and liturgical dance team as well as member and board member of Students for Life. She was also involved in campus ministry, teachers of tomorrow and participated in events such as student chef’s cook-off, social justice pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and other fundraisers.

Megan obtained her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Education with concentrations in Mathematics, Language Arts, and Social Sciences. Every class of Megan’s prepared her to be the educator she is today. She feels she is “able to use that preparation to help the school raise their level of education for the students and help the other teachers become better more successful teachers so they can work together to build up more successful well-educated young women who can impact their society in the future”.  All professors in the College of Education, as well as the former dean, Dr. Pamela Jessee, also impacted her greatly and prepared her for the road ahead of her. According to Megan “They really formed me into the best teacher they could, and I’m not sure I would be where I am today, without God and them.”

If you would like more information on the work Megan is doing and would like to get involved and volunteer (even if you aren’t an educator), you can contact Megan at meganzeg@comcast.net or meganzeugner@lewisu.edu. Volunteers are welcome to join her Cairo, Egypt!

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.