We are Holy Cross
We are curious. We are courageous. We are hopeful. We are humble.
We come from many places and many lived experiences. We are challengers of the status quo, askers of good questions. We want to know why and why and what else, too.
We are undergraduate only, in and of Worcester. Inspired by our Jesuit, Catholic mission, we are empowered to lead and called to serve.
We are students. We are athletes. We are interns, a cappella singers, debaters, organizers, researchers, bakers, critical thinkers. We are people for and with others.
We are Holy Cross.
What Does Belonging Mean to Sean Kaswale?
To Sean, a neuroscience major with a concentration in Africana studies, belonging is about continual personal growth while maintaining a “for and with others” mindset.
Coming to campus for the first day of orientation, the faith gathering sold Holy Cross to me the most. I felt so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by many faithful people who chose to come to a college like this. Leaving my parents that day, I knew I'd made a strong decision.
While Holy Cross champions diverse thinking among diverse people, the College understands that access isn’t always a given. We’re working to change that, and our recent QuestBridge partnership is evidence.
The Questbridge Chapter, MEPA and CASA student organizations on campus were the main ones that made an impact on my time at Holy Cross. MEPA and CASA both had events catering to solidarity between different POC groups and being authentic about their cultural roots. The Questbridge Chapter centered their events on building community between first-gen and low-income students and educating us about different resources on campus that are available to help you succeed. Being a part of these groups gave me the space and pause from the busyness of campus life to connect with people who come from similar experiences.
What Does Belonging Mean to Abby Hornung?
For Abby, an international studies and sociology major, and one of the most accomplished goalies for the women's hockey team, belonging is feeling comfortable in a place she can be herself.
Our Community on The Hill
Belonging at Holy Cross looks different for each student. For Éowyn Bailey, '26, belonging meant pursuing her passion to teach while discovering a secondary passion in research. For Elaine Kelly, '26, belonging meant performing in front of crowds large and small as part of the Holy Cross band. These two cases share one similarity, however: Community.
"I've always known that I wanted to teach — but I've now realized how wonderful it is to do research because of my Montserrat professor. And I think if you're open-minded not only to those paths, but also open-minded to other people ... you're always going to form connections in some sort of way." - Éowyn Bailey, '26
"I think more than anything else, band has always been my first community here, which was really great. And obviously the people in that community have changed over time, but there's that consistency that we always have band. We all just kind of click and get along really well. And I think that, especially for prospective students, like if you're looking for someone to take you under their wing and show you the ropes of Holy Cross and what we do, the band is a really good place to be." - Elaine Kelly '26
What Does Belonging Mean to Caelum Lam?
For Caelum Lam, a Neuroscience major and member of the College figure skating team, belonging means finding freedom to share ideas and promote a more equitable community.
I initially was pretty hesitant to join the figure skating team because I wasn't sure whether my expertise would be on par with other skaters, but they were so incredibly supportive and kind and caring and very accommodating to my abilities. Eventually, I was able to compete collegiately, where I won my first two gold medals of my skating career ever, and I don't think I would have done it without my amazing friends on the team. Just the essence of a supportive community really amplifies the experience being on campus.
We Are Doing the Work
In building people up, we must challenge them to be better versions of themselves. At Holy Cross, we pride ourselves on fostering an environment that welcomes diverse opinions and offers professional and personal growth opportunities for students, faculty and staff.
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Dignity and Reconciliation Committee
The Dignity and Reconciliation Committee was established to answer key questions pertaining to the College's relationship to the institution of slavery. Previous committees and scholars have already confirmed this connection, it is now the College's duty to testify to past harms and move the Holy Cross community toward reconciliation and foster the right relationship with those whose dignity has not been upheld.
