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How friendship, faith, and service shape students鈥攁nd the world beyond campus

At Le Moyne College, the phrase 鈥淒olphins don鈥檛 swim alone鈥� isn鈥檛 just a motto. It鈥檚 a way of life. It鈥檚 woven into dorm conversations, late-night study sessions, and even decades after graduation, into friendships that last a lifetime. For Mike Cunningham 鈥�79, those words came to life when a group of college roommates turned into a 25-year tradition of attending the NCAA tournament together. And for Barb Karper, who鈥檚 been part of the Le Moyne community for over 50 years, it鈥檚 been her students who continue to inspire and energize her work every single day.

The Power of First Connections

When Mike first arrived at Le Moyne in 1975, he didn鈥檛 know it would change his life. But within that first year, he built friendships that not only carried him through college鈥攂ut stayed strong for decades. “Every year, for the last 25 years, eight of us who lived together senior year go to the NCAA basketball tournament. Those friendships? They鈥檝e lasted a lifetime.鈥�

Those early connections don鈥檛 just shape college memories鈥攖hey shape who students become.

Growing from First-Year to World-Ready

Every student鈥檚 journey at Le Moyne is unique, but transformation is a constant.

I think the college years are the best years of your life. It’s a time for self-discovery. I always encourage students to find their passion.”

Barb has seen generations of students arrive shy, unsure, even hesitant. But by the time they walk across the graduation stage? “They leave confident, capable, and ready to take on the world. Watching that transformation鈥攖hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 here.鈥澛� Whether it鈥檚 through academics, service opportunities, or the relationships that shape their experience, students at Le Moyne are encouraged to become the fullest version of themselves.

A Campus Built on Connection鈥攁nd Purpose

At Le Moyne, service isn鈥檛 an add-on, it鈥檚 a way of life.

While buildings and programs have grown, what remains at the heart of Le Moyne is a commitment to serving others. That spirit came full circle for Barb Karper when she helped launch the Grace Center for Faith and Community鈥攁 hub for service, spiritual exploration, and campus outreach.

The Grace Center brings together all the ways students can serve, reflect, and grow during their time at Le Moyne. It鈥檚 about the faith journey, the commitment to others, and the community we build together.鈥�

The Grace Center houses initiatives like campus ministry, mission integration, and The Le Moyne Way podcast; all united under one roof thanks to a generous gift from alumna Kathy Grace Purcell. Barb Karper reflected: “To me, Kathy represented what Le Moyne stands for: community and faith. Her gift created a space where students can come together in those values.鈥�

This isn鈥檛 just about services: it鈥檚 about forming habits of compassion, reflection, and leadership that last far beyond The Heights.

Relationships That Stick

Le Moyne鈥檚 tight-knit community has always been part of its DNA. As Barb Karper says: “The one word I would use to describe Le Moyne is relationships… it鈥檚 so unique. Students don鈥檛 just graduate with a degree鈥攖hey leave with a second family.鈥� Whether it鈥檚 a chance encounter in New York City after 20 years or mentoring students through their personal and academic growth, Barb’s story shows how Le Moyne connections transcend time.

More Than a Campus鈥擜 Community

With new green spaces, modern buildings like the McNeil Firehouse, and academic growth through the Madden and Purcell Colleges, Le Moyne continues to evolve. But what hasn鈥檛 changed is its commitment to cura personalis鈥攃are for the whole person.

Dolphins don鈥檛 let dolphins swim alone, and that鈥檚 not just for students. It鈥檚 how we care for each other as faculty, staff, and alumni.鈥�