Rockhurst News

Sometimes there are obvious clues left behind at a crime scene.

Broken glass can indicate a point of entry. Missing items point to a robbery, etc.

But there are less obvious clues, too — things left behind at the molecular level.

The transition from high school to college can be difficult, but for first-generation, high financial need, and historically underrepresented students, it can be a steeper uphill climb that can lead to persisting in college at lower rates than their non-marginalized peers.

For student-athletes, finding a balance between their sport and everything else on their college plate is a skill that’s in constant development. But what about doing two college sports?

That’s a mountain that incoming star Women’s Lacrosse and cross country freshman Kharis Perona is willing to climb. She’s used to putting in work to meet challenges.

In keeping with Rockhurst’s Catholic, Jesuit tradition, the University is debuting its Wisdom Core Curriculum this year. The updated curriculum helps create and reflect Rockhurst’s culture, mission and identity while keeping up with a changing world.

RU students will be challenged to discover the best version of themselves while learning to inspire others. Through its instructors, the curriculum connects with the students to promote the development of their intellectual, spiritual, moral, and imaginative capacities.

It’s completely normal for a college student to see something they want and decide it’s too expensive – especially shoes. And especially Nike Air Jordans, which can run into six figures depending on what you’re looking for… unless you can make them yourself and sell them to musicians and athletes.

Luke Spencer repeatedly refused to accept defeat when pursuing his dream of being a naval officer – until a severe car accident left him no other choice. Now the Rockhurst University junior has a new dream, and he’s once again overcoming obstacles and using hard lessons learned to make that happen.

When Spencer graduated high school his sole goal was to get into a service academy to become a naval officer. This was his career goal since he was a kid, aiming to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Emma Miller, ’22, came to Rockhurst prepared to pursue an undergraduate degree on her way to medical school.

But, like many, the COVID-19 pandemic led to soul-searching about whether that was the path for her. A biology major and career in medicine, she said, might not be her calling. But, still loving science, she wondered — what is?

It’s not every day you can find a child who loves school so much they want to spend the rest of their lives in a classroom. Many count the minutes down until it’s time to leave.

Not so for Miranda Pollard and J.T. Cornelius. They knew a classroom is where they wanted to be.

When Greg Nicholas ('97, '00) and Amy Essner ('98, '01) met at Rockhurst as undergrads, little did they know how their lives would change…and how many kids’ lives around the world they’d change together.

After completing their undergraduate degrees, the two finished physical therapy school at Rockhurst and got married. They've spent a life in service ever since, though selflessness has always been a part of who they are.

“That’s why we chose RU,” Amy said. “The values we got from Rockhurst deepened that need for service.”

Don’t call it a comeback — when Caroline Campbell took over the position of director of alumni relations at Rockhurst University in May, it marked a return to more than just Jesuit education (she’s a graduate of Marquette University) — it’s also a chance to come back to an institution with which she is very familiar.