On November 2, President Rooney Welcomed 2018 President’s Medallion recipients and their families to the annual award ceremony at the Water Tower Campus.
Good evening and welcome. As President of Loyola University Chicago, I have the privilege of joining you--our Rambler family and friends--to celebrate our students.
Together, we honor the legacy of our founder and first president, Fr. Arnold Damen of the Society of Jesus. Father Damen and four Jesuit colleagues founded Loyola University of Chicago nearly 150 years ago. The President’s Ball and Medallion tradition started more than 50 years ago to celebrate and honor extraordinary students from each of our schools and institutes.
Each of tonight's fourteen President’s Medallion recipients received the recommendation of their academic dean based on outstanding academic achievements and their leadership and service. President’s Medallion recipients exemplify excellence and an intense personal commitment to education, self-discovery and inquiry in the world. They possess a high regard for creating community and for improving the well-being of others.
A Jesuit education advances knowledge and expertise not for its own sake but ultimately for the benefit others. The students we recognize tonight carry already are lit with that spirit. They are people of integrity and commitment who embody the ideals of our Jesuit, Catholic university. Loyola takes great pride in these students. Please join me in a round of applause for these extraordinary women and men.
To our honorees, I offer my congratulations, and a challenge. Wherever your life’s journey takes you, continue to strive for excellence, to ask the hard questions, and push for deeper answers. Continue to have the courage to reach within yourself to be better, to tackle issues that might be complicated, difficult or divisive, but that are important. Take the time to look inside, to look around you, and ask, what needs to be done? What can I do for others? What can I do better, with others? How can I serve? How can I lead?
Our Jesuit, Catholic mission is rooted in a commitment to prepare you for an extraordinary life, to be a person for and with others. You make the world a better place by being of service to it and by taking up the challenge of leadership that will transform our neighborhoods, our communities and our world. I have every confidence that you will answer that challenge.