Jon Skinner, Class of ’10, History

Four years have really flown by. It seems just like yesterday that I was being dropped off at UIC for the first time. After my first year at UIC I realized I really wanted to become more involved in the community. Fortunately for me, the Newman community was ready made and awaiting me to discover it.

I first came into touch with Newman through Theta Xi. During our association process, we would spend hours each week hanging out at the Newman center studying, playing Euchre, and just fraternizing with one another. I remember thinking that Newman was one cool church for being so hospitable to us! The one day during one of our visits my friend Zach told me of his desires to become confirmed. Being Lutheran at the time I was very interested in what he was doing, and the next thing I know I was in the RCIA class with Jackie. The rest, as they say, is history and I was quickly engulfed and welcomed to the community. Since then, Newman has allowed me to channel my creative energy from volunteering at soup kitchens, weekly mentoring at Midtown, and even Alternative Spring break in Kentucky. In all of this, two years has really flown by and I am now graduating. I know that my UIC experience has been a richer and fuller experience because of Newman and I am glad my time and efforts have helped to make a positive impact in the community.