Alumni Features

Hannah Zuercher ’19 was a passenger on a NASA airplane as an earth-science research NASA intern, spent part of her undergraduate career researching how to develop hydrogel bandages for burn victims, and served as captain of the swim team her senior year – but she will tell anyone that none of it was possible without the help of others. “I am beyond grateful for the wonderful mentors, professors, and teammates I had at Lewis. I would not be where I am today without their constant support.” Hannah says she was nervous coming to a school in a place where she had no immediate family or friends around. She quickly forged her own path and made friends when she joined clubs and activities on campus. She was a reader and greeter for University Ministry and a member of the Student Athlete Bible Study, the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and Lemon Club, a group that raises money for childhood cancer research. Before graduating with her degree in biology in May 2019, Hannah had...

Brian Sherry ’16 ’18 goes to work each day as a design and development engineer at Deep Coat Industries in north-suburban Sugar Grove, Illinois. Deep Coat Industries recently developed a new process for metalizing equipment and computer systems. Metallizing is a thermal spray coating process utilized to protect equipment, and humans, from injury. Brian's daily activities at work can run from client management to monitoring 3D printers, to analyzing the chemistry behind the metalizing process. Brian, who graduated with a bachelor's and a master's degree in chemistry from Lewis, says he spent the majority of his time learning from his mentor, Dr. Jason Keleher, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Chemistry. Brian credits Dr. Keleher’s research lab for challenging him to solve problems faster, work smarter, and understand the importance of meeting a deadline for a project.  Brian loved his time in Dr. Keleher’s lab so much that he donated $1,000 of his first...