Note: This message was originally sent on December 12, 2019
We would like to share with you Wendy Flanagan’s inspiring story of dedication and perseverance (with her permission), which she captured in an essay for a scholarship application this year. We are pleased to congratulate her on being selected as a 2019-20 recipient of the Timberlake Family Scholarship, which was established in 2012 by trustee, Diane Timberlake ’81 and her husband Todd (parents of four GU grads).
“I was in the fourth grade, in 1986, when I first visited Gonzaga University with my big brother, Louis Leclezio, who was set to embark on his Bulldog journey as a fierce freshman. My family is devout Catholic and after my parents diligently searched for their oldest child's Catholic college experience, Gonzaga was the only option for the Leclezio family. So, Louis attended from 1986-1990, Lynda attended from 1988-1992, Karen attended from 1991-1995, and I attended from 1994-1997. We had one black sheep in the family who called herself a Bronco and attended Santa Clara. I was supposed to graduate in 1998 as a Bulldog, like most of my sisters and brother did, however, being the youngest of five to receive Catholic education from preschool through college, this thing called money ran short for the "baby" and I had to leave Gonzaga my senior year due to finances. Although this interrupted my academics, it did not interrupt my friendships as I am still friends with my five roommates from 1029 DeSmet Ave and married my Bulldog boyfriend, Ryan Flanagan in 1999. My sister, Lynda, also married a Zag, Kevin McCann who was in my brother, Lou's class. My brother-in-law, Kevin McCann, attended Gonzaga Prep, Gonzaga University and Gonzaga Law. Kevin tells his children, "you can go to Gonzaga and I will pay, or you can go somewhere else and you can pay." Hence, my two nieces, Kaitlyn and Kourtney McCann graduated from Gonzaga and another McCann will be on campus as a freshman next year. Ryan and I have three children, Cael (17), Kendall (14) and Cormac (12) who have made many trips to the Kennel for basketball camps and games. Seeing that Cael is a high school junior and will likely become a Bulldog in two years, I am determined to graduate before he starts.
As you can see, I am not your typical Zag, although I once ran with the best of them, and still do. I completed three summer online courses in July 2019 and am nearing completion of the fall semester thanks to the Bulldog (and Holy) Spirit, also known as the Dean, enabling me to do independent study from my home in Wenatchee, Washington. I have twelve credits to complete in the spring and then, only twenty-two years after the fact, God willing, will graduate in May 2020 with a major in Communications and a minor in Religion.
Since returning to Gonzaga last summer, my heart, soul and spirit, are tried and true Bulldog for life. I prayed fervently about whether or not I should return to finish my undergraduate degree. The support I received from Gonzaga, namely, Jonathan Rossing, Communications Department Head, has stamped me with eternal Bulldog love. My gratitude for this opportunity cannot be expressed in words but is well depicted in the following quote from St. Aloysius Gonzaga, "When He takes away what He once lent us, His purpose is to store our treasure elsewhere, more safely and bestow on us, those very blessings that we ourselves would most choose to have." I choose the blessing of Gonzaga University and thank God daily for the opportunity to finish in 2020 what began in 1994. Finishing in 1998 was not in God's plan; finishing in 2020 is on the horizon.”
Thank you, Timberlake family… “the blessing of Gonzaga University” is made reality for Wendy because of you.