Home is where the leopards are

Tyler Roberts ’25

Photo by JaQuan Alston

“The chemistry research course (CHEM 366: Course-based Research Experience in Chemistry) that I took during the spring semester of my sophomore year was the turning point that helped Lafayette truly feel like home. The countless conversations about my project and potential next steps with my professors led me to realize just how much the faculty care about our success as students. Whether it was an in-depth conversation about a complicated chemistry problem or a short interaction just asking about how the day was going, they were always eager to help out anyway they could. Home, to me, is all about family and community. Knowing that I was not just a random student in a lecture hall, but rather a valued member of the community, solidified Lafayette feeling like my home away from home.” –Tyler Roberts ’25 (biochemistry and neuroscience, minor in biotechnology and bioengineering)

2025 George Wharton Pepper Prize winner

Lauren Daniels ’25

Photo by JaQuan Alston

“Lafayette felt like home even before setting foot on campus as a student. The warmth and camaraderie that radiates between Leopards began for me at my high school graduation when I was puzzled by the loud cheers from the crowd as I walked across the stage in my cap, which I had decorated with Lafayette’s mascot. I am an only child with just my parents in the audience, so the cheers from the crowd were a bit surprising. I discovered that it was my friend’s cousin, Lauren Ameruoso ’22, whom I had not yet met, who had her family on their feet. She turned to me and my family and said, ‘I will look after you, Lauren. We are a family at Lafayette and always support one another.’ This was a promise she kept throughout my freshman year. This moment set the stage for the unimaginable support I received from faculty, students, and the Easton community throughout my four years. The encouraging spirit at Lafayette is contagious, and I grew passionate about mentoring and being that support system for other students. I am lucky to have had this feeling of home from the very beginning.”  –Lauren Daniels ’25 (psychology, anthropology and sociology)

Denisse Villegas ’25

Photo by JaQuan Alston

“Home has always been where I feel seen and supported—first in New York and Ecuador, and now in countless moments at Lafayette. I felt it from the very beginning, when Louise Frazier, associate director of admissions and coordinator of student success, made time for me on short notice to talk through my Early Decision commitment. As a freshman, I felt it again when the Salsa Club board members jumped in without hesitation to help me learn steps I wasn’t completely sure about. I feel it now when I check in on friends, when I help someone polish a resume or grasp macroeconomics, or when I pause to talk with someone I run into—even if I’m running late. I even feel it in the simple act of saying hello to familiar faces around campus. It’s these everyday moments—the small, consistent interactions—that have made Lafayette feel like home. For that, I’ll always be grateful.” –Denisse Villegas ’25 (economics and psychology, minor in organizational studies)

Meghan Inglis ’25

Photo by JaQuan Alston

“To me, the most important part of ‘home’ is the people, and I was lucky to feel immediately embraced by those I met on my team at Lafayette. From the moment I stepped on campus, I had familiar faces to greet me, a network of upperclassmen eager to answer questions, and a coach who, to this day, genuinely cares for all of us as if we are his own kids. Through the swim team, I’ve met some of my closest friends who have encouraged me to try new things, join clubs, and truly be myself. When I was struggling with my health freshman year, that sense of family became real, as my coach, Jim Dailey, offered to meet me at the hospital, the captains left a stuffed animal and note in my dorm, and friends walked downtown to get me cupcakes from a bakery. At that moment, I knew I had made the right choice coming to Lafayette because I hadn’t just joined a team; I had found a second family and a true home away from home.” –Meghan Inglis ’25 (neuroscience)

Ronnie Ward ’25

Photo by JaQuan Alston

“Long conversations over meals, spontaneous game nights, and night walks are really what made Lafayette feel like home. The relationships I’ve built at Lafayette and the special moments I’ve been able to share with people who mean a lot to me made Lafayette a place where I felt safe and was able to find comfort in new spaces. Lafayette’s small, welcoming community makes it easy to make friends. Whenever I leave my room—whether to go to the library, the gym, or Lower Farinon—I almost always run into someone I know and strike up a conversation or go on a little adventure. It’s those unplanned moments that make Lafayette the welcoming place that it is, and why a little piece of my heart will live in Easton forever.” –Ronnie Ward ’25 (government and law, theater)

Lily Kubany ’25

Photo by JaQuan Alston

“Lafayette felt most like home when I became a LEO (orientation leader and first-year mentor) in my senior year and found an entirely new community, at a time when I least expected it. The team of LEOs—welcoming, driven, and genuinely kind—reminded me how powerful it is to belong to a community bigger than yourself. As I guided wide-eyed first-years through their earliest moments on campus, I was reminded of my own awe during those first few days and how deeply I had come to know and love this place. In helping them feel at home, I realized just how much Lafayette had become home for me. That unexpected sense of renewal and connection in my final year was both grounding and unforgettable.” –Lily Kubany ’25 (government and law, minor in psychology)

Shreya Suresh ’25

Photo by JaQuan Alston

“Reflecting on my entire Lafayette journey, it’s impossible to pinpoint one particular experience that made this campus feel like home. I spent so much time pursuing the things I love and made countless memories that I will cherish forever, but those moments were made special by the people I was with. Feeling valued, respected, and genuinely cared for by the people on this campus—peers, professors, and staff alike—made Lafayette feel like home. Even on days when I felt exhausted or overwhelmed, seeing a familiar, friendly face in passing and checking in with them always lifted my spirits, reminding me that I was surrounded by an incredibly supportive community. Those small, everyday moments of connection added up, cultivating my deep sense of belonging here at Lafayette.” –Shreya Suresh ’25 (neuroscience, minor in music)

Grace Comfort ’25

Photo by JaQuan Alston

“The Landis Center for Community Engagement will always feel like home to me. As a first-year participant in the Pre-Orientation Service Program (POSP), diving into community engagement was exactly what I needed to ease my nerves—and it led to friendships that will last a lifetime. Through the Landis Center and Making Our Society an Inclusive Community (MOSAIC), my sense of ‘home’ has also extended off campus, especially through my volunteer work at Gracedale Nursing Home. The relationships I’ve built with the staff and residents there mean the world to me. The Landis Center will always remind me of the ‘home’ I’ve found at Lafayette—and how that home stretches far beyond campus.” –Grace Comfort ’25 (psychology, anthropology and sociology)

Eva Mei Vogt ’25

Photo submitted by Eva Mei Vogt

“As cliché as it may sound, Lafayette felt like home the moment I arrived. Physically limited from surgery just two days prior and emotionally strained as my family navigated my father’s recent heart attack, I was unsure how I would manage the transition to college. Yet within moments of arrival, students immediately stepped up to help me move in and get settled, providing a moment of reassurance in a time of great uncertainty. That small but powerful welcome left a lasting impression—not just because of how I was treated, but because it revealed the kind of community Lafayette cultivates: one defined by empathy and care. That first experience continues to inspire how I show up for others, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the same culture of compassion and support that welcomed me.”
–Eva Mei Vogt ’25 (neuroscience, minor in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies)

Armaghan Ejaz ’25

Photo submitted by Armaghan Ejaz

“While moments such as road trips to Boston and breaks in Chicago stand out as highlights during my time at Lafayette, it was the little things that helped transform a foreign land into home. The small, everyday moments—like Upper at 8 p.m., late-night Wawa runs, and weekend downtown trips—are what remain etched in my memory.”
–Armaghan Ejaz ’25 (computer science, economics, and math)

Cord and Sword Ceremony

On-campus finalists for the 2025 George Wharton Pepper Prize attended the annual Cord and Sword Ceremony, a new tradition that includes the Marquis de Lafayette’s sword—one of Lafayette College’s most prized artifacts. The event began with a brief introduction and acknowledgment of Ana Ramirez Luhrs, co-director of Special Collections and College Archives.

Each finalist was called alphabetically to receive their cord and hold the sword. “The colors of the cords—antique gold and white—represent the Pepper Prize winner and the cohort, and the sword—seen as a revolutionary symbol—represents each individual’s significant contributions to the College community,” shared Tim Cox, dean of advising and co-curricular programs.

“In past years, only the Pepper Prize winner had an opportunity to present the class to the sword,” said Cox. “The Cord and Sword Ceremony will become a new tradition that recognizes all Pepper Prize finalists in an inclusive way. Having this ceremony together allows the finalists to bond through a shared experience and recognize each individual as someone who embodies the Lafayette ideal.”