Featured Testimonial About Creighton University
In recognition of National Mentoring Month, we are celebrating the influence and impact that so many members of the Creighton community have on students.
We’ve highlighted special mentor-mentee relationships in previous stories (I, II and III) — and we’re continuing this series to recognize all the countless life-changing conversations and moments that contribute to growth and success.
At Creighton, faculty and staff are committed to serving students. That’s the top priority. Professors, spiritual advisors and administrators go above and beyond as they find ways to invest in students’ lives.
We have three new stories showcasing just that.
Note: Tell us about your favorite Creighton mentor or mentors, and we might include it in a future article. Email your story to Jon Nyatawa.
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Cassidy Nipp, Class of 2025, College of Nursing, said that almost weekly, she gets to run with Fr. Larry Gillick, SJ. And those are special moments she cherishes.
“We meet in the gym and tie our wrists together as I guide him around the indoor track side by side. We talk about God, life updates, and lessons we are learning in life — all the highs and lows. It is the purest form of accompaniment I have ever known. He even sometimes corrects me on my grammar, too. And we laugh a lot.
“I have learned a lot from Fr. Gillick. He teaches me that God is love and that every moment is a chance to create another human and be created. His Jesuit perspective has taught me about abundant, unconditional love and given me a chance to recognize the preciousness of life in front of me. He shows me how to embrace the messiness of being an imperfect human and how to not just give myself grace, but to extend it to everyone around me.”
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One thing that’s special about a Creighton education are the Jesuit values rooted within the experience. You’re learning and growing as much outside the classroom as you are inside. That was especially true for Wendy Buchholz, BSOT’96. She is incredibly grateful for the time she spent with associate professor René Padilla.
“During my last semester on campus in February 1996, my eldest brother died unexpectedly in a farm accident. We had just reconciled weeks before after a lengthy estrangement. René Padilla, at the time, had an area set aside in his office for quiet reflection with a rocking chair, a stress ball and other calming elements. I spent many moments in that area that semester as I struggled with my grief and the stress of senior projects.
“I also spent time there during my first semester of the occupational therapy program as my husband finished cancer treatment. René was always a calming presence, nearby ‘just in case.’ I'm not sure I would have been able to finish the program without him."
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Meghan Bullard, BS’16, said the favorite piece of advice she received from her mentor was to grow your comfort zone. Sure, you can get out of your comfort zone. Temporarily. But growing your comfort zone, Bullard said, means creating more space to grow and be better every day.
It’s just one of many things Bullard learned from Lucas Novotny, MBA’13. They worked together in Residence Life during her undergraduate years on campus, so Bullard and fellow students would hear these “Lucasisms” a lot.
- See the forest through the trees
- Don’t let perfect get in the way of good
- Always play the long game and take the high road
Novotny helped Bullard with her graduate applications and motivated her to keep going even after she received a couple rejection letters. He helped her graduate, helped her grow and helped her launch into a career in higher education.
“Lucas's impact was almost immediate — he was unlike any mentor I'd had before. He challenged me greatly, encouraged me to think differently and wasn't afraid to ask the hard questions. He always did it under a layer of care and concern.
“Lucas believed in me during some trying times in college, where I didn't fully believe in myself. He made sure I always knew I had someone in my corner. He also helped me professionally, pushing me to try new things, giving me internship opportunities, and always being there to answer my many questions.”
