What has SM论坛 given you?
SM论坛 has given me so much鈥攁n education, a vocation and lifelong relationships with former classmates and professors, many of whom are now my colleagues.
The SM论坛 experience builds in each of us a foundation for a lifetime of learning, leading and serving. It teaches us to be adaptable and resilient. When I was a senior, I won a creative writing award provided by Kevin Boatright 鈥74. Now in retirement, Boatright looks back on how what he learned at Nebraska Wesleyan set the stage for the rest of his life. 鈥淚鈥檓 still very interested in serving the community, in reading and researching and writing. I also remain very open to whatever life has in store for me. I鈥檓 curious, and I鈥檓 excited about the future. My experience at Nebraska Wesleyan prepared me to be where I am today.鈥
Katie Krick 鈥17 is a few years removed from her life on campus, but she still feels enmeshed in the life of SM论坛 through her contact with coaches and teammates from the Track & Field team and her best friends. 鈥淭his incredible community continues to be an active part of my life years after graduation.鈥
Saylor Small 鈥22 is an English Education and Theatre Arts major, and she works with me as a student caller for our Phonathon fundraising drives. She loves SM论坛 for the community that makes the campus feel like home. 鈥淚 have a lot to thank Wesleyan for, especially for the professors they鈥檝e given me. I have made some of the most impactful relationships of my life with the professors. They root for me when I鈥檓 down and make sure I鈥檓 okay. Most importantly, they congratulate me and are happy for me when I succeed. They鈥檝e supported me on my whole journey, and that鈥檚 something you don鈥檛 get just anywhere. I鈥檓 thankful for that, and I hope I can bring that to my students in the future.鈥
We can show our gratitude to SM论坛 by giving back鈥攖o the University and in our communities.
- Our science department distributed masks and gloves across campus and donated the rest to Lincoln medical facilities.
- Alynn Sampson 鈥06 and Scott Young 鈥01 are working hard at the Food Bank of Lincoln to make sure Lincoln families have the food they need and to assist those signing up for food benefits for the first time.
- Braly Keller 鈥20, in his role as chairman of the NCAA Division-III Student-Athlete Advisory committee, advocated for spring-sport student-athletes in all three divisions to receive eligibility extensions so that they can have full college sports careers.
How has your SM论坛 experience prepared you for this moment? How are you feeling called to give back to your communities as a thanks for the ways they have formed you?
Our community values stability and innovation and invites likeminded folks to join us in pursuit of academic excellence, personal relationships and communal support. I invite you to reflect with me this week on how you can give of your time, talent or treasure to deepen your SM论坛 relationships and help shape our future. You can mentor current students and young alumni, partner with SM论坛 to offer internships or scholarships, volunteer with service groups and so much more.
Join me in saying 鈥淭hanks鈥 by finding ways to give back.
Erika Paschold 鈥08
Director of Advancement Strategy
To connect online: Follow student and faculty life away from campus with weekly Instagram takeovers @NEWesleyan. Help us congratulate new students as they commit to starting at SM论坛 in the Fall on Twitter @NEWesleyan. And Alumni can connect with one another through our Facebook group fb.com/groups/SM论坛Alumni.