RC
Renee Cholyway
  • biology
  • Class of 2013
  • Joliet, IL

College student from Warren, Mich. lives to serve

2012 Jul 2

At a young age, University of St. Francis, Joliet, Ill., student Renee Cholyway began to learn the true meaning of "service."

In grade school, Cholyway, of Warren, Mich., helped her grandparents do charitable things for home-bound senior citizens and also sang in choirs for the enjoyment of seniors and the community at large. By the time she reached high school, volunteering was one of Cholyway's favorite hobbies. She worked at community races and with seniors at the local community center. She also became a summer camp counselor at Detroit's Camp Ozanam for underprivileged youth.

"By experiencing service," said Cholyway, "I learned it was about selflessly giving your time and energy to help someone in need."

Cholyway quickly started learning about the connection between leadership and service. She became president of her high school drama club and also became a counselor at Camp Ozanam. By the time college was on the horizon, she had a true taste of what it means and takes to be a leader. In her words, it was "recognizing someone in need, and with courage, standing up to fix it by selflessly giving time and energy."

Cholyway came to USF and started to pay attention to what was happening around her. She'd talk to students on campus about how to make USF and the college experience better. She became a Student Government Association senator and acted as a liaison for her fellow students; presenting their ideas and suggestions and championing for positive changes. She was voted into executive positions for five other campus organizations and was made captain for the women's cross country and track teams. In her spare time, she's an academic tutor.

Cholyway considers her work at USF as just the start of her service and leadership journey. She'll continue to work for Camp Ozanam-now as an administrator who helps to train volunteers-and she plans to take the MCAT soon. She'd like to get into medical school with the intention of becoming a surgeon who works for Doctors Without Borders.

"Being a leader isn't always easy, but it pays off," Cholyway said. "Seeing the joy of someone you helped will stay with you always."

Cholyway is majoring in biology for pre-medicine and minoring in chemistry and visual arts. Outside of USF, she's involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The University of St. Francis in Joliet serves 3,400 students nationwide, offering 40 undergraduate programs, four degree-completion programs and 15 graduate programs, including two doctoral programs. Programs are offered in arts and science, business, education, nursing and health care and social work. For information, call (800) 735-7500 or visit www.stfrancis.edu.