Reflections Magazine Issue #79 - Fall 2013 | Page 42

Alumni Feature

Taking the

Missionand Out
to Heart,

Into the World
Award Winners Honored at
Homecoming Ceremony
The Acapelicans began the ceremony with a
rousing version of “Hall of Fame” and the Siena
Heights Cheerleaders brought down the house
with a surprise tribute cheer at the end. In between, this year’s Alumni Award winners shared
inspiring stories of service, challenge and accomplishment. Central to each person’s journey? The
commitment to becoming more competent, purposeful and ethical—to teaching and learning
through life—and to respecting the dignity of all.
What a great kickoff for Homecoming!
Meet the 2013 Alumni Award recipients.
You’ll cheer, too!

Recent Graduate Award

Saint Dominic Award

Erika Wolcott Henry ’07
(Dunwoody, Ga.)

Jean Hughes, OP ’68
(Chicago, Ill.)

After graduating with a degree
in biology, Erika enrolled in graduate study at Life University College of Chiropractic in Georgia.
Today, Dr. Erika is owner and
operator of Elite Chiropractic,
a family wellness practice in
Atlanta providing chiropractic
care and rehabilitative therapies
for children, teens and adults.
A published author and a member of the editorial board for the
Georgia Chiropractic Association,
she is also an active volunteer,
providing chiropractic care to
the homeless during an annual
feed-the-hungry event, working
with her church, and chairing the
young professionals group at the
Chamber of Commerce. “I am
truly grateful and honored to be
recognized as an alumni award
recipient,” Erika said. “It was a
pleasure sharing the experience
with the other five winners —
from the awards ceremony and
the banquet to the football game!
This Homecoming will forever
be a cherished memory!” Erika
was nominated by Angela Edward
Gbeyetin ’09 and introduced by
Brooke Boone ’07, both Phi Sigma
Sigma sorority sisters. To honor
Erika at their Homecoming tailgate, the Phi Sigs wore t-shirts
with Erika’s name on the back!

Sister Jean studied biology at
Siena Heights, but her lifelong
passion has been social justice.
That passion has infused her
teaching in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, her leadership as the last principal of
Chicago’s Aquinas High School;
her community organizing at
the 8th Day Center for Justice;
and, for the past two decades,
her tireless advocacy work at St.
Leonard’s Ministries, assisting
formerly incarcerated men and
women with re-entry into the
community. Sister Jean offered
“the three most important things
I have learned in 75 years.” Number 1: “Take sides. Create a moral
code that requires a response.”
And, remember sometimes to
side with the most vulnerable
in our society. Number 2: “Put
yourself in places where you will
learn from other cultures—so you
can relate to the world’s people
as fellow travelers. It’s amazing
and humbling what you can learn
if you are open to it.” Number
3: “Love freely. Sometimes it is
hard, but it is always rewarding.”
The universe is moving forward,
evolving into whatever it is to
be, she said; we don’t know the
plan, so the best we can do “is
to love all of creation.” Jean was
nominated by Mary Ann Corley
’61. Friends and colleagues, including R ]H