Students Share Shining Moments at Inauguration Event

Students at Ursinus blaze many trails and wear many hats—they are researchers, performers, athletes, volunteers, leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Each of their experiences are unique, and each of their paths have been paved thanks to countless opportunities to thrive throughout their undergraduate experience.

On the day before the inauguration of President Robyn Hannigan, six students shared their own unique stories with members of the Ursinus community, including the college’s leadership team and the board of trustees.

The showcase was dubbed “Every Student’s Success,” a nod to the college’s next strategic plan, which is being guided by four interconnected themes and sets out to create a blueprint for our students’ personal and academic growth.

“As examples of Every Student’s Success, we wanted to highlight students who’ve built their own version of success—whether through working as an RA, an athlete, through an internship, or through service,” said Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Meredith Goldsmith.

“We believe that success comes in myriad forms and that Ursinus is in a place to help students build their own version of success,” she said. “The versions of success they create here will provide them with the skills that will help them to thrive, many years after graduation.”

The students who presented at Every Student’s Success were Paige Bristow ’23, Kai Haynes ’24, Ben Henwood ’23, Amir Pickens ’23, Romeo Rodriguez ’23, and Dora Zeibekis ’24.

Henwood, a member of the Ursinus football team and a scholar in service, talked about his personal experiences with the support he receives from the entire community. He said, “I come from a pretty big family, so coming into college, I felt that it’d be pretty impossible to feel even more supported. The biggest thing that I learned is that you can choose your family, and I’m extremely grateful to say that I came to Ursinus with six siblings and I’m going be ne graduating with a few hundred.”