“The most important person in any rehearsal is not the conductor—it’s each individual standing in front of me, creating a mosaic of identities, personalities, and lived experiences that must be uplifted and sustained through the music we sing, the stories we tell, and the actions we take. Leadership, particularly in the context of music education, is a collaborative and dynamic process. The opportunities I’ve had to lead The University Chorale of Boston College have revealed the importance of empowering a choir not merely as a group of musicians, but as individuals with a wealth of expertise, knowledge, and experience to share." - Bonnie Stewart ’24, the 2024 recipient of the Barth Award for excellence in the arts

“There are a lot of factors that go into the power of hair and how important it is to people’s lives. There's the historical component, like how people of color used their hair as a way to map out routes and send messages to each other during slavery; and there’s cultural components, like the significance of locs within our African Diaspora, and the empowerment that comes from people growing their hair. I always describe hair as being a crown that can be readjusted, especially within our society, but it’s also an accessory that can be an embodiment of your personality" - Ashley Dossous ’24, a Boston College Connell School of Nursing student and the founder of hair braiding business Slayed by Asho, which began on the Heights | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/AshleyDossous

"When I got here, I knew Boston College was a Catholic university, but I didn’t really know what that meant. Leaving, I feel the Jesuit mission and values have been a huge benefit. Not only through programs like Arrupe, but the Jesuit tenets and Ignatian spirituality are part of my thinking now. Finding God in all things; being men and women for others—cura personalis. We hear them all the time, but they have truly made a big difference in my life in connecting the academic to the social, to the physical, to the spiritual and mental health. That reflective aspect of the University has been so important to me." - Dylan Breen '24 | READ MORE about Dylan as a Senior to Remember: https://on.bc.edu/DylanBreen

“Whenever anyone asks me about my favorite part of BC Dining Services, I always say it's how the administration is so responsive and interested in the students. I love that our sustainability efforts are led by student interns and that dining hall managers are always willing to work with us. Interns and BC Dining managers collaborate often, and we are so lucky that everyone approaches the work with excitement. I’ve developed a ton of project management and leadership skills as a result. In my last job interview, I spent almost the whole time talking about this internship and all the experience I've gained here.” - Jane Fulton ’24, the sustainability student intern manager for BC Dining Services | READ MORE about BC's sustainability efforts: https://on.bc.edu/Sustainability2024

"[My favorite clinical experience as a Boston College Connell School of Nursing student] would have to be my general maternity clinical at Boston Medical Center. I loved the patient population at Boston Medical. It was a high immigrant population. My mom is from South Africa and my dad is Nigerian. It was my first time having so many patients who were of a similar identity as me, so it felt a lot more personal. "Because they understand their patient population, Boston Medical has a different approach to care and they’re known for doing that very well. It was nice to learn under that kind of institution. One of my last days, I met a Nigerian family from the same tribe as me. Their midwife and the physician were from the same tribe, too. We were in the room together playing music from Nigeria as the mother was pushing. It was a really beautiful labor progression." - Oluchi Ota '24 | READ MORE about Oluchi as a Senior to Remember: https://on.bc.edu/3QOmDrA

"Something truly impactful about Boston College is that there is no straightforward path you are pushed towards. Instead, the University emphasizes giving you the tools and guidance to discover one yourself. I have had no greater privilege than to be able to serve as that resource for many underclassmen through the Bellarmine Law Society. As the president, I have the rare chance to connect prospective law students to prospective lawyers, school resources, mentors, and new opportunities to explore their interests. Helping them decide their paths helps to create not only meaning for myself, but it goes to show how BC is a community of people dedicated to creating meaning and passion for each other." - Michael Stivala '25

"There’s a purple post-it note in my desk drawer with two sentences on it: “Our education is not for ourselves, it is for others. It is our first and foremost duty, not to ourselves, but to those around us.' A professor I had freshman year addressed us with those words on the first day of class, and ever since, they have represented what a Boston College education truly means to me. Both inside and out of the classroom, BC has given me the education and the experiences to transform that idea I immediately jotted down on paper into something so natural, ingrained, and expected of myself. I see my education now as being for all the people I may interact with one day. It is for the communities around me and all those to come. That purple post-it note sits carefully on the left side of my top drawer, and it will forever." - Sahithi Thumuluri '25

"While at Boston College, there have been many people both inside and outside the classroom who have helped me gain my footing as a college student, and beyond. I wanted to thank the Boston College History Department as a whole. From my bosses at the front desk, who were always flexible and willing to offer advice, to the graduate students who were willing to have tangential conversations about random history, and finally to professors whose recommendations about research and graduate school propelled me into the next stage of my career. Thank you!" - Brendan Mahoney '25 Photo: Yating Wang '24

“As college is a space for discovery and exploration, connecting deeper with my culture has been important. As a Chicano, with Indigenous roots, it is important for me to show the importance of my culture. While at Boston College, I have had the opportunity to showcase my cultural heritage through the use of media in Communication classes and beyond. Working on these projects has allowed me to also stand in solidarity with others to showcase the importance of all cultures. Most recently, I have worked with 'SlayedByAsho' [a student who braids hair] and F.I.S.T.S. to capture the group's first Hair Show! The use of art has allowed me to bring up challenging topics and spark dialogue regarding culture, race, colorism, poverty, queerness, and much more.” - Jonah Martinez '24

"When my mom received her [Alzheimer’s Disease] diagnosis in 2011, I decided I needed to go public. I needed to speak about this disease that no one wanted to talk about. I needed to let people know that it was okay to talk about it, because if we do not talk about it, we are never going to find a cure. "At Boston College, you are taught to roll up your sleeves, get involved, and try to make an impact. Alzheimer’s was not something I wanted to get involved with, but our Jesuit education taught us that when you need to jump in, you jump in. And for me, Alzheimer’s is something that just needs to be fixed, and I do believe that it is within our reach to do so." - Michaela “Mikey” Hoag ’86, P’14, a BC trustee who lost both her parents to Alzheimer’s and has become one of the country’s leading fundraisers for a cure | READ: bc.edu/bc-web/sites/social/s24/mikeyhoag-bcm

“I have five undergraduates in the lab now. It is exciting to see them make discoveries and know that one day someone is going to be using that to heal an eye, or a kidney, or a liver. We don’t do that in the lab, but we can make fundamental discoveries that will go on to benefit humankind.” - Vicki Losick, assistant biology professor who studies the crucial role polyploid cells play in the healing of wounds | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/polyploidy

“It has meant the world to me to connect with the Miller family, and it’s an honor to represent the legacy, spirit, passion, and love that Eddie Miller brought to the Heights. His example of overcoming adversity, and his legendary dedication to his community inspires me day in and day out as I walk through the BC campus. I truly appreciate the Miller family’s generosity more than words can convey.” - Paul McLaughlin '27, the first recipient of the Edward D. and Patricia K. Miller Scholarship | READ MORE: bc.edu/bc-web/sites/social/s24/paulmclaughlin