Lilly Senior Keystone Arranging the pieces, finding what holds
Yearning for a community that goes deeper – theologically, spiritually, ethically and vocationally? Seeking a conversation that can hold your many identities and experiences all in place? Wanting a space that will engage the anxiety of transition as an opportunity to discover the fullness of self?
The Lilly Senior Keystone provides seniors a space to ask bigger questions with peers and join together their academics with questions of meaning and purpose to encourage both their theological mind and ethical practice. This community meets throughout senior year and culminates with a retreat during Spring Break on Whidbey Institute, Whidbey Island, Washington.
Impact The Lilly Senior Keystone integrates religious and spiritual questions/ideas with a student’s full identity through:
Thinking about the impact of seniors’ experience with Macalester liberal arts education.
Exploration of the place of humility in liberal arts education and theconnection between humility and ethical questions of responsible human engagement.
Development of spiritual access “skills” to apply to post-graduation
transition.
Integration of identities through reflection on lived experience.
Discovery of how one's academic disciplines connect with the big questions of meaning and purpose.
Program Structure
Leaders and students alike bring personal and ultimate questions to the circle along with important life writings and materials that have aided them in negotiating such questions. These are the questions that drive to the heart of students’ education, life, future. All participants in the program practice staying close to questions that are personal to remain open and vibrant during this senior transition.
A few times during the first semester Macalester staff and faculty members from a range of disciplines are invited to join the group. They are asked to share a life narrative of transition or an idea or concept that they think is essential for Mac students to engage before they graduate.
Program Details
Seniors are nominated by others or self-nominate.
A maximum of 13 students are accepted into the program.
The program will take place on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9. The group meets six times during the fall semester and twice during the spring semester. Dessert and beverages are served.
Student attendance at all of the gatherings is expected. A maximum of two excused absences are allowed to be eligible to attend the retreat over spring break.
The program culminates with a six-day retreat during Spring Break at the Whidbey Institute, Whidbey Island, Washington. It is assumed that all students will attend the spring retreat. Aside from a $150 contribution, student expenses are covered for this retreat.
Among the staff who will be facilitating the group are Rabbi Barry Cytron, Rev. K. P. Hong and Rev. Eily Marlow.
