Connie Graham's Legacy of Faith and Generosity

Connie Graham '89 has witnessed generosity through generations, often taking shape in quiet, yet unforgettable ways. She has felt it in the people who opened doors for her, believed in her, and gave her the confidence to step through them. She experienced it in her childhood-in a mother sharing what little she had, in a friend's gift that arrived long after it could be acknowledged, and in her father, who gave what he could, whenever he could. Through her work as the Foundation Manager at Sunset Senior Communities, she has seen it unfold in the steady resilience of older adults and in the thoughtful plans they make to care for others.

And now, across a lifetime shaped by that momentum, she has graciously made provisions for Aquinas College through her estate in support of the Student Scholarship and Success Fund, ensuring that future students have access to the same opportunities that helped shape her journey.

Discovering Gerontology as Her Calling

Connie entered college dreaming of becoming an artist. But like many students, her path didn't lead exactly where she thought it would. With the support of her peers and professors, she found the clarity and confidence to discover her true calling in gerontology.

She credits the catalyst for this shift in trajectory to her college roommate, who shared her passion for art. Their friendship allowed Connie to recognize the level of skill needed to make it in such a competitive industry, and - after much consideration - she decided to change her major.

"At first, I was like, oh no, what do I do?" she explained. "But I decided to go into Sociology. Sister Nancy Ann Flummerfelt helped me. She talked to me about gerontology and encouraged me to do a cognate in that. She was just a wonderful person, very kind, understanding, and knowledgeable."

With her support, Connie began to connect her studies to a clearer sense of purpose. She became involved in her community and pursued experiential learning opportunities, including a study abroad program in Ireland.

"Even though my roommate was a much more fantastic artist than I, we remain lifelong friends and still see each other." Connie shared. "I'm in awe of that. But I think it was God's plan for me to go into gerontology because that turned into my entire career."

Building Confidence Through Experience

Connie expressed how deeply meaningful experiential learning at Aquinas was for her, in both her career preparation and for her sense of belonging. Through each opportunity, she built friendships, many of which have lasted a lifetime, and she gained the skills and confidence needed to thrive after graduation.

She shared that she worked in the library as part of her tuition assistance program. This opportunity, as well as the scholarships she received, were among the leading reasons she was able to afford her education, even though she was the eldest of three daughters and neither of her parents had attended college. In fondly recalling her time working there, she remembered Pam Luebke, who was the library's director. "She was just like a second mom to all of us who worked for her," shared Connie. "She was fantastic."

But she didn't stay in the library. As she furthered her studies in gerontology, she sought opportunities that would give her real-world experience. She found an opportunity to visit Ireland on a study abroad program through a few of her friends, who were also going.

"I volunteered there in a senior home, much different than senior living in the United States. And that was really special," she shared. "I don't know that they had someone before who had that kind of opportunity."

This became one of the most transformative experiences during her time at Aquinas, in that it helped her build the confidence she needed to pursue her career. "Aquinas believed in me," she shared. "Believed I could succeed, and then that helped me to pursue my Master's degree later in life."

Following this trip, she found that the college's location in Grand Rapids meant that she had the choice of several retirement homes, where she might find even more professional opportunities. She volunteered at one of those homes and eventually found her first job after graduating.

Toward a Master's Degree

In many ways, her experience at Aquinas helped open doors for more than just herself. She shared that she became the first of three siblings to attend college (where all three attended Aquinas) and then pursued a Master's degree. "It's just amazing, you know?" said Connie. "I think Aquinas just made me feel confident enough to be in the world, and I just want to give back, too."

Even in her search for degree programs, her Aquinas community was there to guide her. She discovered that Miami University in Ohio had a program in Gerontological Studies. She knew of another Aquinas alumna who had gone there, so she reached out to her for a tour. "When I went to Miami, Ohio, I ended up working in the library there as well," she remembered. "So it all came full circle, which was awesome."

Two years later, she earned her degree and has wholly devoted herself to senior living ever since.

Lessons in Faith and Generosity

Through her work with older adults, Connie has come to learn many life lessons, both in witnessing the strength of faith and in seeing the goodness of those in her care.

Throughout her 22+ years in gerontology, Connie's faith in God has grown stronger. She has witnessed many residents who have faced adversity, faced challenges, whose faith has been a guiding light through those hard times. "And that just shows me there's strength," she states. "There's strength in your faith."

Before Connie started there, she noted how she wasn't comfortable saying a prayer out loud. "Being there and being shaped daily, I'm able to do that now. Now, it might not be fantastic, but I'm comfortable enough to share my faith and lead that group in prayer, which I think is very important."

She also shared how it surprised her just how many of her residents give toward their home's benevolence fund. "A lot of our residents are very generous, and that's part of the reason why I decided to put Aquinas as a recipient when I pass away."

Connie has recently moved to another position as Foundation Manager at Sunset Senior Communities, inspired by the care she has witnessed. "I believe in our mission, and I like to tell residents to make sure that they know we have a benevolence program for them. So if they run out of finances, they don't have to leave," she explained. "So it's giving them peace of mind, which circles back to me helping someone with peace of mind and getting accepted here (at Aquinas) financially."

The Value of Giving Back

Even back to her own childhood, Connie shared how she has witnessed the hand of God work in her community and through her loved ones-often in "different, unexpected ways."

She told many stories from the goodness she has witnessed in her family. In one, she spoke about her father, who also worked in a retirement home for 20 years, though as a maintenance man. The stories he brought home deeply resonated with her. And she remembers how impactful it was to see his generosity for their neighbors at such a young age. "In the past, he would give money if we said, 'Hey, so-and-so's having a rough time.' My dad does not have a lot of means, but he would do that."

Connie expressed that she hopes to carry these lessons forward so that her children can see that same faith and generosity lived out in their own lives.

Ready to Learn More?

To talk with someone about making an impact at Aquinas College through your will or estate plan, please contact Jeff Puckett, Principal Gifts Advisor, at 616.632.2816 or [email protected].