President’s Medallion

Photos by Lukas Keapproth

Arrupe College

Jacqueline Plascencia-Perez

‘Every time I think about an initiative or an action as student body president, the Jesuit mission is always on my mind. It's been my guide throughout the year.’

College of Arts and Sciences

Shawn Enright

‘It’s meant a lot to try and help people who feel the same way as I did.’

The Graduate School

Jonathan Okstad

‘We are at a major crossroads in education with calls for dramatic change, online education, disruptive innovation, and the creation of new educational models. I hope to work at the epicenter of this work to ensure the engagement and support of traditionally underrepresented and marginalized students.’

School of Environmental Sustainability

Matthew Lorentz

‘One of the most important lessons I've learned at Loyola is that it's worth it to put yourself out there.’

Institute of Pastoral Studies

Kathryn Smith

‘I want to use what I have learned and personally experienced to continue serving the poor and becoming involved in issues of social responsibility and justice.’

Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing

Cecilia Crane

‘Loyola has given me the ability to speak to a patient from a more personal standpoint, not just as a nurse and a health care provider. It's taught me how to approach a patient compassionately and treat the patient like they're a person, not like they're a diagnosis’

Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health

Alyssa Stuck

‘Despite not being physically at Loyola, I feel super close to and supported by faculty, staff, and the people in my classes. Everyone has the sense of wanting everyone to succeed... I've never had that type of support before.’

Quinlan School of Business

Michael Halgas

‘Something that has always been stressed at Loyola is there is an action component of education. You should take what you’ve learned in a textbook or classroom and apply it in the real world.’

School of Communication

Adele Gedig

‘I feel very fortunate to study at a University where social justice is at the forefront of pedagogy and action.’

School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Amy Liesemeyer

‘Loyola has given me the foundation from which I'll build the rest of my life.’

School of Education

Nathan Petithomme

‘The School of Education has taught me how we as educators can use our power and privilege to enact change with stakeholders, community members, and fellow staff to all reach the goal of educational justice.’

School of Law

Sarah Free

‘A lot of us come into law school having been sold this idea of the ‘hero lawyer.’ One of the most important lessons that I've learned at Loyola is that sort of person doesn't exist because to do this work well, you have to do it with other people.’

School of Social Work

Tamara Alshoweat

‘Everyone always tells me, ‘Dim your fire a little bit.’ And I say, ‘No.’ ’

Stritch School of Medicine

Kendall Frisoli

‘We are more than medicine; we are humans. If we remember that, and we are our best selves and take care of ourselves, we will be the best we can be for patients.’

Back like we never left