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Changing Lives. Building Futures: The Vision
SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 One Extraordinary Day When Susquehanna's Past, Present and Future Converged.
Changing Lives, Building Futures. These four words describe what Susquehanna University does, little by little, every day with each of its 1,900 students. So, in some ways, September 30, 2006, could be viewed as just another day. But in other, more significant ways, it was a day like no other. It was a day that changed lives, three in particular. It was also a day that trumpeted a vision for Susquehanna University whose achievement will require participation across the Susquehanna University community over the next several years. President L. Jay Lemons described that vision in remarks during a celebration of Susquehanna alumni and students held in Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium as part of the
“Three Students Like Me” Moments earlier, standing beside Lemons in front of a crowd of about 3,000 people in and around the home bleachers, seniors Karen Davis, Amanda Lenig and Sarah Shaffer shifted nervously in their shoes. They’re not the type of students who seek out attention. Their unease about sharing center stage with Lemons for a surprise announcement was evident in the questioning glances they exchanged. They listened intently as Lemons described for the crowd a conversation he had a few weeks earlier with Barry Jackson ’68, of Annapolis, Md., a member of the Susquehanna University Board of Trustees. During that conversation, Jackson said: “I learned a lot and had terrific experiences at Susquehanna. My life changed. I met the girl who became my wife, and we’ve raised a beautiful family together. So the place was pretty important. “What I know now, in retrospect, is that people were watching out for me there. I can’t tell you who they were or what they did, but their support and guidance helped me. There’s no doubt. And where I am today – it wouldn’t have happened without them.” “Then,” Lemons recalled for the crowd, "he said this to me: ‘Jay, my wife and I want to give back and help students. Students who are working hard, who demonstrate potential, thriving at Susquehanna, and doing it all quietly – maybe flying below the radar screen like I did.’” The women’s smiles broadened as Lemons outlined the selection criteria to the audience. He asked his faculty and staff colleagues to quietly identify three high-performing, but perhaps under-recognized, students, representative of Susquehanna in the best sense. From a pool of around 60 nominations, three students emerged. |
