from the
president
W
President Jim Towey
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| ave maria magazine | avemaria.edu
hat an incredible 10 years! Ave Maria University sings its own Magnificat, joining our voice to that of our patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary, as we proclaim, “God who is mighty has done great things for us! Holy is His name!” When Tom Monaghan courageously undertook the mind-boggling task of moving a small college in Michigan to the tomato fields south of Immokalee, he could not have imagined all that awaited him—and all that has been accomplished by the men and women, past and present, who joined him in this noble endeavor. By the numbers, we now have nearly 1,000 students on our campus from 48 states and 18 countries in 23 distinct fields of study. We also have about 1,000 graduates who have gone on to the priesthood and religious life, to medical schools and law schools, to other post-graduate studies at fine institutions at home and abroad, and to various other careers. Nearly 200 alumni married a fellow AMU graduate and about a dozen students are engaged to a classmate. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Through all of the growth and change, Ave Maria has never wavered in its commitment to the Magisterium of the Church. We remain rooted in our Catholic faith and open to seekers of the truth wherever they happen to be on their spiritual journeys. The good Lord has assembled a diverse student body and an exceptional faculty to light the way. Students are on this campus for an education that occurs in the classroom as well as in the dorm, the cafeteria, and in service projects in faraway places like Calcutta. The University challenges the fine people entrusted to our care to discern “the deep things of God” and ponder why they were created, what their purpose in life is. In this issue of the Magazine, you’ll read about some incoming students who are yearning and learning to answer those questions. Some have had life experiences in war zones that many of us can only imagine. Others are just starting out in life and their goals are awe-inspiring. You’ll also take a trip through the first decade of our University’s history. And you’ll experience our football team’s trip to Chicago in stunning photojournalism that you’ll find nowhere else. Throughout the academic year, we have a number of special activities planned to celebrate this milestone, including campus lectures by best-selling authors such as George Weigel, Arthur Brooks and Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, and festival celebrations on All Saints Day and our University feast, the Annunciation. We have our amazing choir’s performances throughout both semesters and in the spring our students perform Shakespeare on campus and in the community. As we celebrate 10 years of existence, let us thank everyone who has made this campus the wonder it is. To our Founder, Tom Monaghan, whose tremendous financial and spiritual support means so much, and to those donors and supporters who have given so generously of their time and talents, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And to those who seek to know more about Ave Maria University, and are interested in contributing to our future, come visit and learn about us. Warm regards,