Feature Article
continued from page 19 . . .
My education as Siena was based on not only a
choice, but a chance. Regardless of my past or
reputation, I was both welcomed and encouraged every step of the way to prove myself. In
the matter of Siena, we are all created equal and
all who strive to be better will one day count
themselves as esteemed graduates of this great
university. I am one of those individuals and
am humbled by the fact that my only child is
also an alum. Siena laid the groundwork for all
of my life’s wonderful possibilities. The quality
of life it has offered me is beyond reproach and
the true goodness Siena cultivated within my
soul allowed me to emerge more prepared, and
more importantly, more compassionate. Siena
is a reflection of hope and it is fitting the alumni
magazine is called Reflections.
Because of Siena, I now fit into the web of creation and was given the opportunity to see the
delicate link between education and salvation.
This university was and still is my beacon of light
in the darkness. It is a boundless ocean of higher
learning abundantly prepared to make all who
enter its hallowed halls better human beings.
Fusing knowledge and wisdom, this eminent
university made a once frail young man into
someone more resilient. It sculpted me with its
intangible hope and revealed to me a more beautiful world. This is the place where I still find
those who saved me. This is, and will forever
be, My Siena. u
Jamie T. Richardson ’87
Outstanding Alumni Award Winner
The other night I found myself wondering how
I might find the right words to express my gratitude and love for Siena, when I overheard my
wife, Kate, and oldest son Brendan discussing
5th grade religion homework—and my son’s
voice reading from Matthew, Chapter 25:
“For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you
welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and
you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”
Wow. There it was–40 words of sustenance, a
perfect balance to what felt like 40 days and 40
nights wandering to find the right words.
20
Reflections Winter ’11
Jamie T. Richardson ’87—Outstanding Alumni Award Winner: The Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes alumni whose outstanding professional
achievements and/or volunteer contributions promote Siena Heights University positively to the community. These alumni demonstrate strong
leadership characteristics, serve as signifi cant role models for others, and embody the spirit of Siena Heights University.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me drink…”
After high school, looking ahead to the Fall of
1984 I was absolutely certain I was going to be
a Michigan State Spartan. Then along the path
I met Chuck Milliken and Fred Smith and the
next thing I knew, I was enrolled and ready to begin classes at Siena Heights. I remain incredibly
grateful to them both – I didn’t realize then the
profound impact Siena would have on my life.
Those school days brought some tough times.
Unfortunately my Grandfather, whom I was very
close with, passed away suddenly; and shortly
after that, my parents decided to divorce. With
my parents splitting up, money was tight and
if it wasn’t for the work study opportunities,
academic scholarships, and student loans Siena
helped me procure, I might have had to drop
out of school. I drove a car I kept together with
bondo and duct tape and I learned how to use
a can of lawn mower gas and empty Mt. Dew
bottles to re-fuel my’72 Torino whenever the
tank ran dry–-which was often since the fuel
gauge was broken!
“I know for certain a Siena
Heights education helps
me tear down walls, helps
me broaden my perspective. . . wherever I look, in
everyone I meet and in
everything that happens.”
While this wasn’t the easiest time in my life, I
was blessed with an incredible college roomate.
This person was there for me no matter what and
seemed to understand all I was going through.
Her name was Eleanor Brillhart and she was my
grandmother. When my Grandpa had died, I
moved in with her at her home in the Irish Hills
to help however I might—you see, my Grandma
Eleanor was constrained physically to a wheel
chair because of multiple sclerosis. But when it
came to matters of the spirit, she encountered
no constraints whatsoever.
. . . continued on the next page