“I have been embraced by the Elms community,” says this business management major, Student Government leader, and volleyball player from Farmington, Conn.

John Dunphy ’19 has taken the Catholic social teaching of Community to heart and has been welcomed into many communities at Elms, from social to political to athletic.

John’s first experience happened before he even took his first class — participating as a freshman in the Dorothy Day program sponsored by the Office of Campus Ministry. This program, held the week before students return to campus, allows freshmen to interact with their classmates and upperclassmen, as well as with members of the Springfield-area community, at a Sisters of St. Joseph-sponsored ministry or in a local social service agency.

Since that experience, John has become a Dorothy Day Program leader, president of the class of 2019 in Student Government, a member of the Sophomore Leadership Program, and a member of the men’s volleyball team.

“Everyone is extremely friendly and I am able to have a lot of great connections within the school,” John  said. “The positive atmosphere here at Elms has allowed me to better myself for the future and for my career.”