Note: This message was originally sent on June 27, 2022
I am hopeful each of you get to meet Mieri one day.
As commencement season approaches each year, The Spokesman Review zeros in on one graduate from each regional high school – to share their story and next steps in life. We are proud to share Mieri’s story (pictured to the left, link below) as she prepares for her journey to GU in the fall.
Help she received to learn English, inspired North Central grad to help others – and to lead
A couple callouts from the story that I think may resonate with each of you:
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Mieri believes the best way to help people is to work beside them and encourage them to be the best, most authentic version of
themselves,” said NC counselor Lyndsey Sabo. “She also believes in the power of accountability and peer mentorship. She’s a passionate, motivated, goal-oriented, friendly, happy, hardworking, positive leader.”
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As if those activities weren’t enough, she’s an excellent student, and also helps lead the Shades Club. “It’s where people of different backgrounds get together and discuss hard topics and current events,” Kahsay said. “We try to understand each other’s stories.”
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"To be honest, I'm not a natural leader." My personal reflection…..how lucky are we to have her incredible spirit, her leadership joining our community?
Inspired by the above, I am proud to share with you a bit about two GU summer programs that have a parallel connection to Mieri’s story. Gonzaga’s Summer Language Camp has been operating for 24-years and has reached over 400 refugee students in Spokane Public Schools. Additionally, thanks to benefactor support and the leadership of our School of Engineering and Applied Science (Dean Hoo and her team), this summer we are launching the SEAS Summer Immersion Program, bringing high school junior and senior females to campus for a four-day residential camp. They hail mostly from small towns and communities and may never have been exposed to engineering or computer science.
Both programs are structured using an engineering design process that includes inquiry, research, solution development, creating a prototype and crafting a product.
Incredibly proud to see students like Mieri making GU their focus, the place they believe they can bolster their skills as agents of change, problem solvers, innovators. Grateful for the colleagues that set this stage each and every year so our students can become their best selves – leaders our communities and families need. Inspired by each of you for your belief and investment in our mission.