Feature Article
2006 2009 2010
Breaking Stereotypes
Football was nothing but a rumor on the Siena Heights campus before Sister Peg arrived . Most probably presumed it would stay just that with an Adrian Dominican Sister as President . However , as one who was voted “ Most Athletic ” in high school , Sister Peg again displayed her boldness .
“ I love athletics ,” said Sister Peg , who was a high school tennis teammate of all-time great Chris Evert . “ And I particularly enjoyed football . We looked at it from a number of different perspectives . I knew that the culture couldn ’ t change in a negative way because of who we are . Football just created a whole new spirit on campus . I ’ ll never forget that first game ( in 2011 ). The spirit in that place … that place ( O ’ Laughlin Stadium ) became alive .”
But football , as well as the several other athletic programs Siena Heights has added since her arrival , also brought new students to campus . With an enrollment hovering just below 700 students on the Adrian campus when she arrived , SHU currently has more than 1,000 fulltime undergraduate students enjoying new facilities and programs .
“ Our focus right now is more on academics than it is athletics ,” she said . “ We grew the University through athletics , and now we want to grow the University more through academics .”
20 | Reflections Summer ’ 16
“ We Just Won .”
Sister Peg calls that first football game during Homecoming Weekend on a warm September day in 2011 one of her best moments at Siena .
“ The spirit I felt that day and the presence of God and the goodness of the people who made it happen …” she said . “ The variety of the people who walked out on that field , Olympic style , from the Sisters to the students … it was just overwhelming .”
And if Sister Peg doubted the decisions to add these new opportunities , they were put to rest ironically during another football game – a cold , dreary Homecoming matchup against Taylor last fall . The Saints were trailing by a wide margin by halftime , and Sister Peg , who had left the President ’ s Box to congratulate the alumni award winners and athletic hall-of-fame recipients on the field , decided to meet the team as they exited the locker room .
“ We were losing so bad , when the team comes out I ’ ll try to encourage them , probably just what they didn ’ t want to hear ,” she said , laughing . “ And this one big fella came up to me and was completely outfitted , including the helmet on his head . I couldn ’ t even tell who he was . And he said to me , ‘ I just have to thank you for saving my life .’ I said , ‘ What did I do to save your life ? Tell me what you mean .’ He said , ‘ My brother has been in prison for eight years , and if you had not started football , I would have been there with him .’ I gave him a big hug and I thought , ‘ Wow , this is what it is all about .’ I went back to the President ’ s Box and I said , ‘ I don ’ t care what the score is , we just won .’ That ’ s what it is all about , touching people ’ s lives to the core .”
Stepping Up ‘ Big-Time ’
New programs , plans and facilities need resources . And Sister Peg realized why there were so many questions directed to fundraising during her presidential interview process . For someone who has spent her life building community , Sister Peg now had to sacrifice some of that time to leave campus and “ find the money ” to help make many of these big ideas happen .
Enter Mary Spencer , another South Florida resident whom Sister Peg was introduced to early in her SHU presidency . The two developed a fast friendship that has meant the realization of many of the University ’ s hopes and dreams , including O ’ Laughlin Stadium , the McLaughlin University Center , the Spencer Athletic Complex and the music program .
“ Mary has just been one of those donors who does believe in Siena Heights ,” Sister Peg said . “ Her sense of giving is such a beautiful sense of giving . She explained it as there are a number of people sitting around the table who are friends , and all their gifts are different . My gift may be the gift of implementation . Her gift is that she has the resources . So if she shares the resources with me , then I can implement them .
“ Her generosity overwhelms me . She ’ s our angel in many ways .”
Sister Peg also credits many other “ angels ” who believe in the Siena Heights mission and have “ stepped up big-time .”
“ And big-time means is what bigtime means to them ,” she said . “ Everybody doesn ’ t have the same amount of resources . If somebody gives us $ 100 , that ’ s a big gift for them because of the kinds of resources they have . I never want to lose sight of that .”