Reflections Magazine Issue #79 - Fall 2013 | Page 9

Campus Feature

Willis Sowle III Begins Dominican
Young Adults Chapter at SHU

W

illis Sowle III ’15 is part of a youth movement
happening on the Siena Heights campus.
The junior Religious Studies major from Toledo, Ohio,
attended a Dominican preaching in action conference in
Chicago in May 2012. Soon after that experience, he had
a revelation.
“As I began to engage in campus ministry in the fall, it
seemed like there was a missing piece in the faith community
on campus,” Sowle said. “I came to realize that we are a
Dominican university, and a vast majority of the students
and faculty haven’t really embraced that idea. (This) led me
to the conclusion that we need a student organization that
enlightens students to the truth found in Dominican life.”
In October, Sowle helped form a chapter of the Dominican
Young Adults on the Siena Heights campus. The DYA has
replaced Sojourn, the campus ministry youth group that
previously existed. He said the learning about the Dominican
tradition and heritage has been a process.
“I began an action plan to educate all of our members,
myself included, on Dominican tradition and the opportunities
we would be presented with,” he said. “The transition process
consisted of four meetings, each week discussing and learning
one of the four pillars of the Dominican tradition: prayer,
community, study and preaching. These topics were taught
to us by (Adrian Dominican) Sisters and professors from
around campus.”
At the end of the meeting process, SHU President Sister
Peg Albert, OP, PhD, addressed the new group and gave them
her presidential “seal of approval.”
“I think it’s fantastic what Willis and these students have
done to highlight and preserve the Dominican tradition on
campus,” said President Albert. “Students are part of the future
safeguards of that Dominican heritage at Siena Heights.”
Some members are also part of the Campus Ministry Scholars program, however, it is open to all students on campus.

“Faith is a crucial piece to my experience at SHU,” said
Sowle. “As a ‘new’ Catholic who completed the RCIA program
just two years prior to my freshman year, I knew that I needed
an environment that would provide me opportunities to grow
in my faith. Little did I know, however, how big of an impact
the school would provide me. I have embraced a myriad of
opportunities from retreats, to service, leadership, and a wonderful motherhouse to help my faith life grow and develop.”
He said an early challenge to the group is helping to educate more students on not only what the Dominican tradition
is, but how it can apply to them as a SHU student.
“Siena provides opportunities for each and every student
to grow and learn fur ѡ