Kayci Pickett, 2010

Summer is over and the tranquil environment that dominated much of the summer at UIC’s campus has been replaced with congested hallways, teeming sidewalks, and a hoard of new students looking for a place where they are more than just a name on an attendance sheet or door dec in the dorms. This year, the Newman Center started off the year with a rush of events to give students such a place. Seasoned students, transfers, and freshman alike were met with a flurry of activities beginning with Welcome Back Night that jump-started the academic year. Seeing how much effort all of the Newman staff, veteran students, and FOCUS missionaries put into making the first Mass of the academic year a welcoming place, source of assurance, and motivation for the students returning and coming to UIC for the first time, it set the tone for a year where a spirit of community is abounding.

It has been a great testimony to see the Newman Center family out front and center in the campus during the start of the year with a barbecue on the lawn, bonfires at night, numerous Bible studies to sign up for, awesome presence at the Fun Fair complete with a bike raffle, and even a Mass out on the front lawn. These events have all combined to make Newman a place where students can find a niche, make friends, and be united in their faith. While these events are always a great way to help the Newman family grow, the genuine interest that all of the JPII Newman Center staff has taken in everyone who comes into the center shows unmistakably that here, students are more than just a number, they are an invaluable member of an ever-growing community that is always reaching out and welcoming all.