Summer 2013

Stories of Forgiveness from Africa

The Drive-In Theater: Relics, Ruins and Reminders

of a Rich Visual Culture

School of Dentistry: On the Cutting Edge

We Are All One: Traveling the

Camino de Santiago

Congratulations to graduates Laura Haller, BS’13, of Omaha and Matthew Leedom, DPT’13, of Sioux Falls, S.D., who received the prestigious Spirit of Creighton Award at May commencement.

This annual award honors two students who — through their initiative, enterprise, academic achievement and outstanding character traits — exemplify the best qualities of the University’s founders.

While at Creighton, Haller was a positive force for others, choosing activities that led her to challenge her peers, create opportunities for personal development, serve others and lead by example. As a resident adviser, she mentored underclassmen and through the Cortina Community, an academic, service-based living-learning community for sophomores, she sought holistic development opportunities through service projects and coursework.

In the Ignatian spirit of caring for the poor and marginalized, Haller worked with the Jesuit Middle School and volunteered at Precious Memories Daycare, Lindenwood Nursing Home, Open

Door Mission, Kids Can and more. Last summer, she spent six weeks working in an alternative school for Aboriginal children in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Leedom served as a peer tutor to other students in the Department of Physical Therapy. He also designed and taught a six-week experience in teaching and research as part of the department’s education program.

Leedom served as core ambassador for the Nebraska American Physical Therapy Association and Student Assembly. He was active in campus student organizations, including Creighton’s Student American Physical Therapy Association, the Physical Therapy Leadership Guild and the Geriatric Physical Therapy Organization. He received the 2011 Spirit of Physical Therapy scholarship award for his commitment to academic excellence and class camaraderie. In addition, through the University’s Respite Services, Leedom volunteered twice a month to care for an individual with a traumatic brain injury.

Best wishes to Laura and Matthew and all of Creighton’s 2013 graduates.

Spirits of Creighton

Laura Haller, BS’13 Matthew Leedom, DPT’13

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