"My proudest accomplishment has been leading the successful efforts of the Feed Kids Coalition to make universal free school meals permanent in Massachusetts. We set out to pass a piece of legislation and build the support needed to make it happen, but it quickly became something bigger. The idea that every child should have access to food in school no matter their circumstances resonated so deeply that it brought people together from every background and perspective. It became a movement. Before this change, too many kids were going without the nutrition they needed at school because their families, though struggling, earned just above the limit to qualify for free meals, or because the paperwork was impossible to keep up with. The system was broken, and kids were the ones paying the price. We went into this campaign understanding that it was very ambitious and not knowing how long it would take, but we knew it was exactly the kind of systems change that would make a real difference. Now every child in Massachusetts has access to two free meals a day at school with no applications, no stigma, no barriers. When we work together, ending hunger is entirely possible. That is the ultimate goal: for Massachusetts to become a place where no one goes hungry." - Jennifer Lemmerman MSW’08, the chief policy officer at Project Bread who will receive Boston College School of Social Work’s Distinguished Alumni Award | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/Lemmerman

“It was my goal that I would complete all six world major marathons by graduation, and once I set my mind to it, I knew it was going to happen. The fact that it fell into place in one-and-a-half major cycles—that was something I didn’t expect. It started with running for charities, which was the first two, and then my relationships and the people I work with came through for the second two, and then came the luck, which is the thing that catches me off guard the most. Of all the things that shouldn't have happened, it was the two that I got into through the lottery—that's the blessing right there.” - James Redding ’27, who set a world record as the youngest male runner to complete all six world major marathons | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/JamesRedding

“The lack of sleep and the time difference were the hardest parts. I was interviewing for full-time roles at the same time the Olympics were happening, so there was one day where I had a 12 a.m. wake-up, worked until 3 p.m., and then took a train to New York City for a four-hour interview. That was the longest day, but being around such talented and tenured individuals makes you rise to the occasion. I just wanted to be a sponge and soak up as much as I could, because it was an honor just to be there, let alone get this award.” - Bailey Prete ’24, who was awarded a Sports Emmy for her contributions to the Paris Olympic broadcast on NBC | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/StartingStrong

"My first couple weeks working with immigrants at the Kino Border Initiative on the US-Mexico border, I was on fire. I wanted to hear the stories of each and every person, I wanted to give them everything they needed. I wanted to march into Congress and scream at the policymakers who create and then enforce this broken, inhumane system. But I soon realized that accompaniment isn’t always a shout; it’s a whisper. In a world that claims that some human lives are not worth the same as others, the biggest thing I learned from my time is that the most important service you can give someone is sometimes just a conversation. Just spending a minute to truly celebrate the holy presence of another person." - Daniel Berkes '27, who spent his summer working in Nogales with the Kino Border Initiative / Iniciativa Kino para la Frontera | READ his full reflection: https://on.bc.edu/DanielBerkes

“I just loved the school spirit. I would go to Boston College Athletics games in high school and wanted to be part of the student section...Having gone to a Catholic elementary school and a Catholic high school, I also liked that I could continue going to Mass at Boston College. My grandmother, who is friends with some of the priests here, definitely influenced my choice to go to a Jesuit college. My dad and grandmother were really excited for me [when I was accepted]. My dad immediately told everyone he works with. As a first-generation student, getting into BC was a big deal. When I got in, it felt validating for myself and my family.” - Tatiyana Orrego '29, whose father and grandmother work in BC Dining Services | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/AFamilyAffair

"Each day that I drove to medical school as a student, I read the inscription, 'Learning to Care for Those in Harm’s Way,' etched above the entrance. The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences creates military physicians for that sole purpose. And while the faculty reminded us daily of our school’s primary mission, it was not until I became embedded with special operations and submarine units that I began to truly understand that profound responsibility. I believe there is no greater job in medicine and in the military than providing the highest quality of care to our service members who voluntarily risk their lives to ensure the safety of our country. While I am no longer in the Navy, I still passionately advocate the best care for my community patients who have similarly entrusted their cardiovascular health to me." - John Chin '06, a naval medical officer who became a specialized cardiologist | READ MORE in Boston College Alumni Stories: https://on.bc.edu/JohnChin

"Interning in [the] finance [department] at MLB this summer was a dream come true. Every day I was challenged with projects that pushed me to analyze data, think critically, and communicate insights across the organization. What stuck with me most was how often I leaned on the foundation I built through my education at Boston College. The courses, professors, and community here have given me the skills and confidence to step into such a high-level environment and feel prepared. My experience at MLB showed me that what I’ve learned at BC doesn’t just stay in the classroom, it truly sets me up for the real world." - Madison Barry '26 Photo: Amanda Simpson '28

"Resilience has become the lens through which I see every challenge. Whenever I face a difficult situation, I ask myself how I can learn from it and make the most of it. As Friedrich Nietzsche said, ‘What does not kill you makes you stronger.’ Each rough moment I’ve gone through has only prepared me to confront whatever comes next. In those moments, I also turn to prayer—asking God for strength, remembering His promise of peace that the world cannot give. A guiding philosophy for me comes from Matthew 7:7: ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.’ That verse reminds me that persistence, faith, and resilience open new doors, even in the hardest seasons of life. "Being part of Residence Hall Council at Messina College and Residence Hall Association has shown me how deeply connected leadership and community really are. Caring for my peers has taught me that when you support others, you also grow and learn more about yourself. Through RHC and RHA, I’ve realized that leadership isn’t just about organizing or guiding—it’s about listening, building trust, and creating spaces where people feel they belong. That lesson has shaped not only my role on campus but also the person I’m becoming. "Volunteering in Jamaica with the Mustard Seed Organization was another turning point in my journey. At first, I thought about a career mainly as a way to make money, but this experience made me realize how much work still needs to be done in the world. It led me to reflect on the three fundamental questions of a Jesuit education: What brings you joy? What are you good at? And what does the world need you to be? For me, the answer to all three came in the form of helping people. I realized that caring for others is both my joy and my strength. "This reflection has guided me toward my calling: to become a gynecologist. Women’s health is an area that has been overlooked for far too long. Not enough research has been done on women’s bodies, which makes it harder to understand conditions like PCOS and endometriosis—diseases that have caused pain for both my friends and family. Too often, women’s pain is dismissed as psychological rather than physical. It is time to change that. It is time for the medical community to take women’s health seriously, to dedicate more research, more resources, and more attention to their needs. Women deserve to have their pain heard, their health prioritized, and their lives valued.Every year that we delay progress, countless women continue to suffer in silence. The lack of urgency in addressing women’s health is not just a medical gap, it is a moral failing. If we truly believe in justice and equality, then transforming women’s healthcare must be one of the greatest priorities of our generation. "That reality drives me to want to advocate for women, to work on these conditions, and to help improve the women’s healthcare system. For me, resilience, faith, leadership, and service have all pointed to the same truth: my life’s purpose is to use my gifts to help others, especially women whose voices and needs have too often been ignored.” - Jedson Dimanche '26, the 2025 Jeffrey S. Keith Resilience Award winner at the Ever to Excel Awards

"The two best decisions in my life were coming up here to Boston College Magazine—no, maybe that was the best one, because that’s how I met and later married [in 1991] my wife, Kathleen [Grady]. Kathleen was the secretary to Boston College Football coaches Jack Bicknell and Tom Coughlin. We got married at St. Ignatius Church and had our wedding reception in McElroy Commons. Kathleen is a double Eagle; she finished both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees while working in the football office. Our son, Trevor, graduated from BC last May and is now at Washington & Lee Law School. When I came to BC, I never expected to be here for 37 years. This has been a great place to work, and it’s a great community. It has all turned out so well. We have no regrets whatsoever. I’ve got a lifetime of memories, a lifetime of friends, both inside and outside of the athletics world. BC is a place that I love." - Jim O'Neill, Boston College Athletics Associate Athletics Director for Ticket Operations | READ MORE in Boston College Magazine: https://on.bc.edu/HotTicket_BCM

"I began to truly understand the link between education and power. Education is not just a means to a job or college. Education is a lifeline — an act of resistance and a hope for transformation. I was reminded that access is not only about physical materials, but also the belief in one's potential. But it was also clear that the playing field was far from level. Children in urban centers or wealthier regions had access to resources, trained teachers, and future opportunities that my students did not. These questions brought me face-to-face with the power structures that shape educational systems worldwide." - Adriana Curtis '28, who volunteered at the Schwarz School in Zumba, Tanzania, through an Advanced Study Grant | READ her reflection on the experience: https://on.bc.edu/AdrianaCurtis_Humans

"Whenever I begin a new book, I always set aside several minutes to read and reflect on the acknowledgements. Usually found in the first few pages preceding the introduction, the acknowledgements connect me on a distinctly human level to the person whose writing I’m about to explore. Authors often name those they’re inspired by, those they’ve learned from, and those they deeply love. I find such sacredness in the vulnerability of their words. Sometimes, authors list only a few names—people whom I wonder about as I read onwards. My theology courses at Boston College have taught me that to be human is to be in relationship with others. The acknowledgements in books animate this principle in a tangible way, drawing the lives of strangers nearer to my own. They remind me of the love that saturates this world and inspire me to hold onto hope. I intend on making my final year at BC a living acknowledgements section–a time in which I am intentional about expressing gratitude for the people I love and those I’ve been lucky enough to learn from." - Molly Wysocki '26 Photo by Amanda Simpson '28

"I wanted to use filmmaking to let the world know what’s happening in Venezuela. I love my country. I loved growing up there. But the country kept getting worse and worse...We left when I was fifteen years old. The story I had in my heart was about the guilt of not being there to fight for it. The tension between your right to individual happiness versus the responsibility to the collective." - Diego Vicentini ’16, the filmmaker behind SIMÓN | READ MORE in Boston College Magazine: https://on.bc.edu/DiegoVicentini_BCM Photo: Gala Ricote