Photo of Austin Hill boxing

Austin Hill: college is hard, but life can be harder

Sitting on a roof in the bitter cold of a Chicago November, joints aching, Austin Hill thought to himself: Going to school is better than working construction.  So he returned to Union.  Austin’s meandering journey…

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Photo of Sharon McDowell Larsen completing an ironman race

From running club to Ironman to coach: Union graduate embodies the gift of movement

Sharon McDowell Larsen ’84 has always been on the move. Born in Zimbabwe, she moved back and forth between Africa and the United States as a child, and then to Canada. During college, her homebase…

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Photo of Derek Williams

Derek Williams pays it forward

Everyone deserves a teacher who inspires them to pursue their passion. For Derek Williams, that teacher was Larry Ray. Now, Williams hopes his new full-time role in Union’s Computer Science and Math Program will allow…

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Photo of Abner and Debbie Campos

Abner Campos: a life of learning starts at Union

Abner Campos will never forget the last day of his Theology 1 class with Dr. Thomas Toews. At the end of the class, the professor told his students to remember just one thing. Campos expected…

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Photos of Rich and Lynnet Reiner living an active life.

Passing on a passion for fitness

One morning while shaving, Rich Reiner made a discovery that proved to be a wakeup call. “I found a bump on my neck,” he said. “That shouldn’t be there.” At the age of 39 with…

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Photo of the Educare team with Justin Dena and Janae Schumacher

Union graduates provide critical support in Haiti

When a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southwest Haiti on August 14th, 2021, the international community rushed to send aid. But for three Union College alumni, simply sending supplies wasn’t enough. International Rescue and Relief graduates…

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Photo of JosueMiguel Marin

Ready to serve: internships set graduates on the path to success

Most college graduates leave school with one pressing goal: find a job. But that stressor was one Josemiguel Marin, a 2021 graduate, didn’t face. He was hired in January of his senior year by the…

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Photo of Abigail Logan wearing scrubs

Meaningful change: Abigail Logan found career and calling in occupational therapy

“I like to listen to people and help them.” Abigail Logan graduated in May as part of Union’s first cohort of OTA students, and now she has begun her career as an occupational therapy assistant…

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Photo of Sandra Elizondo

An education to match her passion

When Sandra Elizondo, a 2020 Union graduate, lost her half-brother DJ to gang violence ten years ago, a passion sparked inside her to help struggling youth.  “I remember he always said people just don’t get…

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Photos of James and Rachel Fernando

Serving Sierra Leone

James and Rachel O’Hare Fernando use lessons from Union to heal patients. James Fernando’s mother jokes that he got his degree in camping. As an international rescue and relief major at Union College, James did…

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Photo of Kenna Lee Carlson

Kenna Lee Carlson: 28 years of behind-the-scenes excellence

For Kenna Lee Carlson, leaving her job as Union’s alumni activities director is not a retirement so much as a promotion to full-time family activities director. “I don’t want to just go home and put…

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Alumni enjoying Homecoming dinner

Homecoming: join us for Union’s reUnion April 4-7

Plan now to join us! Special recognition will be given for honor classes from the following years:
1949, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1979, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2009.

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