Our History and Our Future

Three words are etched on the President’s Medallion: Leadership. Scholarship. Service. These words sum up the essential aims of a Jesuit education. They are also the qualities exemplified by President’s Medallion recipients.

Every year, we honor one student from each of our colleges and schools. This year’s recipients represent many fields of study and diverse background. They have in common commitment to our mission as demonstrated by superlative talent, high integrity, and deep compassion. They excel not only in the classroom but also in the world, and are dedicated to serving those around them.

The President’s Medallion tradition started more than 50 years ago to honor extraordinary Loyola University Chicago students. These students extend the legacy of our Jesuit, Catholic mission as traced from Loyola’s founder and first president, Father Arnold Damen, and extending through his twenty-three successors. In our 150th Anniversary Year, these honorees serve as beacons of hope and talent for the future of our communities and the world.

Jo Ann Rooney, JD, LLM, EdD

President

Esther Durosinmi

College of Arts and Sciences

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Major: Political Science

Expected date of graduation: May 2021

The most valuable lesson I have learned from my Loyola education is to care for self, others, and the community.

Esther Durosinmi was only 15 years old when she graduated from high school and enrolled at Arrupe College, Loyola’s two-year associate’s degree program. An immigrant from Nigeria, Esther was motivated to succeed and it didn’t matter that she was several years younger than her classmates. She excelled at Arrupe, where she has been a writing fellow, orientation leader, and student ambassador. Then, she transferred to the College of Arts and Sciences to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Down the road, Esther hopes to attend law school and enact change in her home country, where she wants to increase access to education for women and girls, as well as advocate for women’s rights. She has interned for Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth twice, both in the senator’s Chicago office and as part of a remote legislative intern program, in lieu of an in-person Washington, DC, internship due to pandemic safety regulations. She also volunteers as a tutor for refugee youth with the organization Girl Forward and served as president of Sisterhood, a community service group that helped prepare meals for people experiencing homelessness in Chicago.

Here, Esther reflects on lessons learned at Loyola and how they have prepared her for life after college:

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from your Loyola education?

The most valuable lesson I have learned from my Loyola education is to care for self, others, and the community. It serves as a reminder and also a form of reflection for me.

How have you been influenced by Loyola’s Jesuit mission?

Loyola’s Jesuit mission has influenced me to always look at the inner layer of things and actively work to make a change for the better. I am so thankful for the education Loyola has given me and I really couldn’t think of a better education, with staff who genuinely care about their students and work.

What do you hope to achieve after college, and how has Loyola prepared you?

What I hope to achieve after college is a sense of how to be independent, and I feel like Loyola has prepared me for this. Taking courses at Loyola, being involved in organizations, and so many more activities have shaped me to be an independent individual, as well as become better at seeking and using my resources effectively.

James Dao

Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing

Hometown: San Mateo, California

Major: Nursing

Expected date of graduation: May 2021

Emphasizing the human component of health care and medicine, Loyola has given me the mindfulness to be a great health care provider.

James Dao’s professors praise both his leadership and communication skills, whether he is in a clinical nursing setting or in a community service role. It’s a far cry from his first year at Loyola, when he says he was timid in class, afraid to raise his hand and answer a question incorrectly. After four years at the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, including stints studying in Rome and England, he’s grown exponentially.

A Naval ROTC midshipman, James is part of the campus armed services support organization, the Blue and Green Society, and will serve as a nurse in the U.S. Navy after graduation. He is secretary of Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity and volunteers with Be the Match, a bone marrow donor program.

Here, he reflects on the influence of his Loyola education and the importance of serving others:

What was the most meaningful volunteer, service, or student organization activity you’ve been involved in? How has it influenced you or shaped you as a person?

While volunteering with the organization Global Brigades, I traveled to Nicaragua for a 14-day mission providing health care to small, rural communities outside the city of Managua. It was eye-opening to work with people who did not have the same privileges I do. Later in my academic career, I made the important realization that you don’t need to travel far away to find people who are in need. There are many health disparities right here in our country that need to be addressed. My experiences working in Nicaraguan clinics and clinics here in Chicago have helped confirm my vocation of providing health care to underserved populations.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from your Loyola education?

It wasn’t until my sophomore year when I realized how important it is to ask questions. The fact is nobody knows everything, and in the interest of self-improvement and scholarship, one should always embrace that fact. What surprised me even more were the reactions and feedback that I received from others by my change in mindset. I discovered that people respond very positively to the authenticity of acknowledging that you are not perfect and even respect you for actively trying to better yourself and your environment.

How have you been influenced by Loyola's Jesuit mission?

Loyola taught me to care for people holistically and authentically. The faculty continuously encourage us to look at both people and situations through multiple perspectives, and as nursing students, we are taught to care for our patients physically, psychosocially, and spiritually. It is sometimes easy to fall into the habit of looking at your patients as a series of diagnoses, lab values, and tasks that need to be done. We, as citizens of the world, cannot afford to ignore our shared humanity. Emphasizing the human component of health care and medicine, Loyola has given me the mindfulness to be a great health care provider.

Eric Karney

Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health

Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas

Major: Public Health

Major: Biology

Expected date of graduation: May 2021

My professors see me as a whole person, rather than only a student. Whether by creating community or encouraging wellness, Loyola has helped me to better care for other people and myself.

When the COVID-19 pandemic changed life for everyone, Eric Karney helped with the response in Loyola’s hometown of Chicago, working as an intern with the COVID-19 Bureau in the city’s Department of Public Health. On campus, he’s involved in Loyola’s COVID-19 Equity Response Collaborative, a University-community partnership that aims to minimize harm from COVID-19 to at-risk populations in Chicago. All work points toward his future goal of becoming a physician specializing in public health and infectious disease.

A member of the Interdisciplinary Honors Program and an Admissions Student Ambassador, Eric has made the Dean’s List each semester and has a 3.83 GPA. He serves as the Vice President of Recruitment for the Illinois Delta Chapter of Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity. He also volunteers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department and at Howard Brown Health, which specializes in providing culturally competent medical care for the LGBTQ+ community.

Here, Eric reflects on his experience at the COVID-19 Bureau and Loyola’s impact on his future in medicine.

What was the most meaningful volunteer, service, or student organization activity you’ve been involved in? How has it influenced you or shaped you as a person?

My Loyola education has emphasized the importance of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. My professors see me as a whole person, rather than just a student. This semester in particular, faculty and staff members made changes to support our new learning environments and encourage participation in an online format. Loyola also emphasizes the importance of caring for yourself. Whether by creating community or encouraging wellness, Loyola has helped me better care for other people and myself.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from your Loyola education?

My Loyola education has emphasized the importance of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. My professors see me as a whole person, rather than just a student. This semester in particular, faculty and staff members made changes to support our new learning environments and encourage participation in an online format. Loyola also emphasizes the importance of caring for yourself. Whether by creating community or encouraging wellness, Loyola has helped me better care for other people and myself.

What do you hope to achieve after college, and how has Loyola prepared you?

I plan on pursuing a dual MD/Master of Public Health degree, with a current plan to specialize in infectious disease. Loyola has prepared me academically to pursue a future in medicine through rigorous science courses and a thorough education in the liberal arts to better understand and empathize with the perspective of others. In addition, Loyola has helped me appreciate the need for holistic care of patients and how to treat them first as people.

Varsha Kalangari

Quinlan School of Business

Hometown: Schaumburg, Illinois

Major: Information Systems

Minors: Accounting Information Systems

Expected date of graduation: May 2021

Loyola has an amazing support system that continually pushes its students to expand their worldview and be the best version of themselves to foster a healthy community.

Varsha Kalangari’s professors and mentors praise her for her empathy and service-oriented attitude.

She volunteers with the South Asian American Policy and Research Institute, a Chicago nonprofit that focuses on civic engagement initiatives within the South Asian community, and spearheaded its 2020 Census Outreach Project. She has also mentored fellow information systems students as a teaching assistant and tutor since her sophomore year.

A member of the Quinlan School of Business Honors program and the national business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma, Varsha has been on the Dean’s List every term. On campus, she is part of the Women in Business Club and Hindu Students’ Organization. Varsha also sings Indian Classical Carnatic music. She has performed at events to raise awareness about classical Indian music forms and taught other young Indian singers.

Here, Varsha shares the most meaningful aspects of her Loyola education and what receiving the President’s Medallion means to her:

What was the most meaningful volunteer, service, or student organization activity you’ve been involved in?

One of the most valuable lessons has been the importance of community when creating a socially just and equitable future. We must center and support the people most affected within the communities that we serve, so that they're prioritized every step of the way. You can’t create change for people—it must be with people. From teachers, nurses, and poets to community organizers, factory workers, and youth, everyone is needed in the creation of a future where everyone’s humanity is fully recognized and their needs are met.

How have you been influenced by Loyola’s Jesuit mission?

The Jesuit mission at Loyola has taught me how my personal education can be used as a meaningful action for serving others. The opportunities from my education are not restricted only to me; rather my education is a path to give back to the community. I have become a more compassionate and empathetic person through my Loyola education, which has continually pushed me to pursue meaningful work that has the potential to benefit people beyond myself.

What does receiving the President’s Medallion mean to you?

Receiving this medallion is a testament to the large support system I have had these past four years. I am extremely grateful for my parents, who have taught me the importance of education and have continually encouraged and supported me. In addition, I would not have received this medallion were it not for the guidance of my professors, in particular, Dr. Nenad Jukic, who first introduced me to the information systems field and has provided indispensable guidance and advice. I am incredibly grateful for the strong community I built here at Loyola.

Camille Jackson

School of Communication

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Major: Film and Digital Media, Sociology

Expected date of graduation: May 2021

“Loyola has allowed me to think critically about all the systems and institutions that I navigate within this world and what I can do to challenge them and create positive change.”

Camille Jackson found her home at Loyola University Chicago in the STARS (Students Together Are Reaching Success) program hosted by Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. The program provided “solace and connection,” she says, during her first year. As a sophomore and junior, Camille served as a mentor in the program, helping students of color and first-generation college students utilize campus resources to thrive academically, connect with others, and become a part of the Loyola community.

She has also been a college coach in Loyola’s Pre-College Summer Scholars program for high school students and an orientation leader, all while earning a 3.83 grade point average. Plus, Camille interns at Full Spectrum Features, a Chicago nonprofit committed to increasing diversity in the independent film industry by supporting BIPOC, LGBT+, women, and minority filmmakers.

Here, Camille talks about her commitment to amplifying marginalized voices through storytelling:

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from your Loyola education?

One of the most valuable lessons has been the importance of community when creating a socially just and equitable future. We must center and support the people most affected within the communities that we serve, so that they're prioritized every step of the way. You can’t create change for people—it must be with people. From teachers, nurses, and poets to community organizers, factory workers, and youth, everyone is needed in the creation of a future where everyone’s humanity is fully recognized and their needs are met.

What do you hope to achieve after college, and how has Loyola prepared you?

After college, I want to continue being a storyteller, combining art with advocacy in everything that I do. I want to write and develop content, including television shows, documentaries, and podcasts that center and uplift BIPOC and other systemically marginalized voices. I would love to work in educational children's media one day, creating inclusive and dynamic stories where young children can see positive reflections of themselves. Loyola has been a significant part of my journey by allowing me to think critically about all the systems and institutions that I navigate within this world and what I can do to challenge them and create positive change.

What does receiving the President's Medallion mean to you?

[It means that] the work that I’ve done, and will continue to do, to make people feel seen and listened to within social structures and institutions that often make us feel small is being recognized. It's a really beautiful feeling.

Natasha Gonzalez

School of Environmental Sustainability

Hometown: Warrenville, Illinois

Major: Environmental Policy

Expected date of graduation: May 2021

Our school’s Jesuit mission encourages students to speak up for any injustice we see.

Natasha Gonzalez isn’t just studying environmental policy and sustainability—she’s living it. She founded a community garden in her native DuPage County, outside Chicago, as part of the Sustain DuPage sustainability initiative. She’s developing a program called the Treehouse to promote positive mental health for students concerned about the climate crisis. And she also worked as a legislative intern for U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a vocal supporter of clean energy and action on climate change.

When Gonzalez transferred to Loyola University Chicago from another institution, she was nervous about starting over. But here, she says she found a community “always there for support and encouragement.” Gonzalez will continue at Loyola’s School of Environmental Sustainability next year, pursuing a Master of Science degree in environmental science and sustainability, with a concentration in environmental law and policy.

Here, she shares how her Loyola courses and the Jesuit mission have impacted her, and what receiving the President’s Medallion means to her:

What was the most meaningful course you’ve taken at Loyola? How has it influenced you or shaped you as a person?

I was lucky to have my first courses as a transfer student be Climate Change and Human Health, with Sasha Adkins, and STEP: Climate Action with Tania Schusler. These two courses introduced me to creative discussion while focusing on actionable solutions for our own communities on campus and throughout Chicago. Getting out of the classroom and into different neighborhoods in Chicago and meeting and learning from different faculty members and guest lecturers has influenced me to pursue a career in higher education.

How have you been influenced by Loyola's Jesuit mission?

Our school’s Jesuit mission encourages students to speak up for any injustice we see. I am proud to go to school with students who are coming together to advocate for Loyola’s divestment of fossil fuels.

What does receiving the President's Medallion mean to you?

I am so honored and humbled to be selected to receive the President’s Medallion. I have been an advocate for the earth, animals, and people my whole life. I will continue to serve others and work towards a more fair and just society within our ecosystem. Receiving the President’s Medallion affirms that the work I do and life I live is for a much greater purpose than myself.