JCU STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES

Doug Walton ’09
Major: Economics and/or Political Science
Hometown: Jefferson, Ohio

Reaching Out to the World

Doug Walton is a reflective young man with brilliant blue eyes. He says, “You can be sheltered here unless you reach out to the world. Volunteering at the Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen as a freshman was a completely new experience. The people seemed very authentic. When you actually sit down and have a conversation with the homeless, you quickly perceive that they are not all that different – they have the same feelings. It was awkward at first, but that was the start for me.”

Doug has progressed from the start to the middle; he is a junior intending to major in economics or political science – or both. He is president of the Circle K service group; a senator of the Student Union; is on the executive board of the Seeds of Hope elementary school mentorship program; and serves on the leadership team for the freshman retreat.

Last spring, Doug went to Nicaragua for a service immersion, where he learned more about free and fair trade and about their impact on the lives of rural Nicaraguans.

"My immersion experience in Nicaragua broadened my understanding of people living in different countries.  I was able to experience up close how trade policies and other issues that I learn about in my economics classes actually affect real people in the developing world.  I gained a profound respect for the people of Nicaragua and have a much deeper understanding of how we, as consumers and voters, can improve the lives of those around the world through the products we buy and the policies that we support," Doug says.

Osasiuwa “Siuwa” Edomwande ’09
Major: Education; Minor: Business
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Making a Difference

Osasiuwa “Siuwa” Edomwande is a particularly shining example of the rewards possible when we engage the world, and that world engages us back. Siuwa is a native of Lagos, Nigeria, and a graduate of Loyola Jesuit High School in that African nation’s Abuja. There, Siuwa learned that “the world is not as we thought it was, and
that we have to leave it a better place.”

When she arrived on campus, Siuwa hit the deck running and by now she has logged many metaphorical marathons. Last spring, she spent a semester in London studying under the banner of the Boler School.

Since she arrived in fall 2005, Siuwa has been a Student Union senator, a member of The Leadership and Social Justice Learning Community, a Blue Streaks Ambassador, a member of the university Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team, a mentor to students at East Cleveland’s Chambers Elementary, a member of the Residence Life dining and advocacy committees, a leader of the first-year retreat, a lector, a volunteer at the Catholic Worker House, and a participant in the Through The Eyes of a Child Program.

Siuwa’s high-school classmate, Innocent Edache, says of his Nigerian friend; “She is always smiling. She is amazing.”  After graduation with a major in education and a minor in business, there will be a year of service, a master’s in the States – a master’s she hopes will be in education and peace and justice studies. Then back home, where they need her.

Ultimately, government service, “but not in a political position; I want to be where I can make a difference,” she says.

Brendan McLaughlin ’08
Major: English
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Serving the Homeless

Brendan McLaughlin is a big guy from Cleveland’s West Side. He had his first encounter with Ignatian values at St. Ignatius High School. He grew up in a long love relationship with sports, but a torn ACL in his knee in 8th grade ended Brendan’s dreams of high-level athletics.

Now he works as a supervisor in the JCU Intramurals Program and nurtures an English major’s dream of becoming a sports writer. He also takes journalism classes and writes a Carroll News column on intramurals.

Brendan delights in a well-turned phrase in his sports column, but his heart is most-warmed by the experience of walking with the poor. When he was  in high school, he made a couple of brief forays into the encampments of the homeless. At John Carroll, those expeditions have moved closer to his center.

The Labre Project, named after St. Benedict Labre, began at Ignatius and was expanded to include JCU by, among others, Jodie Bowers ’06G. Labre has grown even more thanks to Brendan and fellow senior Bryan Mauk. Every Friday night, a JCU contingent brings food and friendship to Cleveland’s homeless.

Brendan says: “The cool thing about Labre is that it’s more about the relationship
than the food. We’ve been doing it for 113 weeks now. I know a lot of people out
there. When my grandfather passed away, Jim -- one of the people we
visit -- came to the memorial concert. It really affected me.