Column find us on facebook — search for shu alumni
Column find us on facebook — search for shu alumni
from the alumni office
Jenny Engle ’ 12 , ’ 15 / MA Director of Alumni Relations
( 517 ) 264-7143 jengle @ sienaheights . edu
Setting the World on Fire at Siena Heights
“ Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire .”
Sister Peg Albert reiterated St . Catherine of Siena ’ s words at graduation this past spring to a record number of graduates . I have witnessed this statement to be true in so many of our alumni . Through events on campus and off campus , I ’ ve had the opportunity to meet and witness so many of our community of alumni setting “ the world on fire .”
Kelly Burke ‘ 07 and I were students in Studio Angelico together . At the 2015 Alumni Art Exhibit during Homecoming , I got to witness the evolution of her work since graduation . She is on fire and living her dream ! We keep up on Instagram , but to see a gallery of her work and get to congratulate her in person was special . Siena offers this continued community as Studio Angelico has made a tradition of hosting a reception Friday night at Homecoming week ( mark your calendars for Oct . 13-15 !).
At graduation in the spring , I was honored to listen to Chase Wilkerson ’ 05 speak at the Kente ceremony . His soothing yet go get ’ em personality encouraged me when we went to school together , and I watched as he inspired the new generation of Saints . Another Siena encounter I was fortunate to experience .
I have not only met alumni , but some of the new faculty and staff on our campuses . They are so energetic and passionate about the mission of the Alma Mater . I am proud they are continuing on the legacy of so many of our beloved professors and mentors .
Another thrill for me has been to watch a former high school student of mine graduate . From a copy room conversation with his mom to Gianni Chesnick ’ 15 deciding Siena was the place for him , too , it ’ s been incredible to watch his own Siena experience unfold into success .
Siena is still that place we loved as students . It looks a lot different , but I assure you , the mission is well . Those magnolia trees still blossom in the spring on campus in front of Benincasa , where Mary Poore ‘ 76 and I posed for a selfie . I affectionately call Mary my “ Adrian Mom .” I didn ’ t meet Mary until after I graduated and moved away . How did two alums become such friends ? That ’ s the Siena community .
If you know an alumni , or even a friend of Siena ’ s , who is setting the world on fire , let us know ! Nominations for Alumni Awards are accepted on an ongoing basis . Those received by March 1 , 2017 , will be considered for the 2017 awards . Visit http :// sienaheights . edu / LandingPages / AlumniAwards . aspx to submit a nomination . Call us or share a photo on our Facebook group and tell us how your Siena community is still a part of your life . Drop by for a visit or mentor a current student to expand your Siena experience . Even just tell someone about your Siena story in a copy room . You never know what fire it will start !
Reflections Fall ’ 16 | 29