Alumni Features

Black History Month Alumni Spotlight: Jaylen Bush '21 For Jaylen, Black History Month has always been about celebrating the beauties of Black Excellence. Black Excellence is a mindset, and those we highlight this month had, or have, that mindset, according to Jaylen. "Through adversities and tragedies spanning from the darkest days of, not only American history but of our world’s history, Black Americans have fought tirelessly to make all peoples question: 'What kind of country, what kind of world, are we going to be?'" It is Jaylen's hope that we all use this as a time to reflect on ways to, not only celebrate, but also spread beauty and love throughout the world. For him, this is something he is committed to each and every day - especially as he begins his career and paves his own path for excellence. Growing up, Jaylen took part in after-school programs that were sponsored by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). This connection led him ...

For Lewis alumnus, Bill Heiden '84 , a Catholic education has been an integral part of his life since grammar school. Growing up, Bill attended St. Christopher Catholic School and Marist High School and eventually went on to earn his bachelor's degree in biology at Lewis. Today, Bill works as a middle school teacher at Annunciation Catholic Academy in Altamonte Springs, Florida.  Both as an educator and Catholic educator, Bill tries to incorporate his real world learning experiences into his classroom. Having worked as a research chemist, for 30 years, alongside people in sales and marketing, he recognizes the importance of blending these experiences into his lessons.  "I always felt my Catholic education and rigor better prepared me for college and career," says Bill. "I felt that I could take on the challenges and expectations of my employers and jobs. At the same time, at Lewis, I was able to be more involved and enjoy the extracurricular activities, because I...

If you put a challenge in front of Cristian Palacio '21, you can bet he’ll accept it. The 2021 graduate of Lewis University isn’t one to back down. In part, that’s what drew him to become an ammunitions specialist in the U.S. Army from 2014-2018 – which, as he quickly learned, dealt heavily with logistics.   That path eventually led him to Lewis – where he received his degree in supply chain management with a focus in logistics.  “What drew me to supply chain was how interesting it is to see all the parts work together to get a product from raw materials to the consumer,” said Cristian. “After my time in the Army, I had a good understanding of what the supply chain industry was like and I found it both challenging and rewarding.” While studying at Lewis, Cristian was heavily involved in the Office of Veteran’s Affairs, taking part in programs that were established to assist and connect with other veteran students.  “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we held several event...

Future alumna and current Lewis University art student Rachel '22 aspires to be an artist one day - with a focus on illustration or sculptures. Rachel has had the opportunity, through the art program here at Lewis, to use her creativity to embrace unorthodox ways of expressing emotion through art. "One of the biggest things that influences my creativity is the materials that I work with, especially ordinary everyday objects. I'm constantly noticing qualities in objects; what kind of feeling is attached to the shape and how they could be repurposed for art, whether it be a head or a nose or a mouth. Another thing that influences my creativity is human emotion and how to portray it through inhuman objects. I like to draw out a viewer's emotions in unexpected ways through my sculptures and characters. I want people to see not only the bright and zany exterior, but also sense underneath that there's an emotional awareness the sculptures have that they can empathize wit...

Every year on November 11, we stop to honor and celebrate all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. For Jim Belmont ’94 , U.S. Navy Captain who has served for the last 27 years, it is a day of vulnerability. “Although Veterans Day celebrates all veterans who served in any capacity, to me, it symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice of the millions of individuals who served in the Armed Forces, no matter what branch, and haven’t been  able to come home. Only 1% of the population serves and can call themselves a veteran. We don’t do this for the praise, we do it because it is what is in our hearts. But getting a moment where someone comes up on the street or in a supermarket and says thank you for your service means a lot. Veterans Day gives us the opportunity to let our guard down for that moment and enjoy the praise from those we serve and protect.”  After graduating from Lewis in May 1994, Jim sought after a non-traditional path and immediately enlisted in the U.S...

Lewis alumna Georgi Presecky ’17 was surrounded by some of the best storytellers growing up – her parents. Georgi’s mom was a teacher, and her dad was a reporter at the Chicago Tribune for more than 30 years. Both avid readers, they instilled the love of words in her at a young age. “The written word has always been my passion,” said Georgi. “I love classic novels and great TV and have written in a journal every single day since I was 13 years old.” After earning a perfect score on the English portion of the ACT in high school, Georgi knew that storytelling was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Fast forward to 2017 after graduating from Lewis, she began managing social media and outreach for  FF2 Media, a website promoting the work of women in film. Once the pandemic hit and theaters closed, Georgi was forced to pivot careers. She now works for Patch where she writes daily newsletters for residents of Oak Park, Forest Park, and Lakeview and assists in news conte...

It takes a unique individual, passionate about justice and public service, to be both a Chicago Police Officer and a Real Estate Lawyer. But if there is one thing we know, it’s that a Lewis Flyer can get the job done! Gretchen Chavez ’09 is originally from the South Side of Chicago in Beverly. Growing up, Gretchen always knew that she wanted more than the typical 9-5 desk job – which is why the idea of working for a police department seemed like the perfect fit. It wasn’t long after she pursued a bachelor’s degree at Columbia College Chicago and began working for the Chicago Police Department, that she chose to earn an advanced degree at Lewis. Gretchen continued to work full time as she dove into her schoolwork, and two short years later, she earned her master’s degree in Criminal Justice. For the past 16 years, Gretchen has served as a Chicago Police Officer assigned to the Marine Unit. Her specialization is in rescue diving, but she also assists the department with evidence re...