2010 Elet Scholar: Amber Beery

The top graduating senior in the Class of 2010 is Amber Beery of Medina, Ohio. Beery was honored at Saturday’s commencement exercises as the John A. Elet, S.J., Scholar. Named after the first president of Xavier University, the honor recognizes a student for academic and service excellence and is formerly known as valedictorian. Beery, 22, is graduating with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. She is traveling to Rome next month as the assistant with Xavier’s Summer Honors Rome Study Abroad. In the fall, she will be attending the Ohio State University College of Medicine.

A couple of memories of Xavier stand out for Beery.  “I was so blessed to have three opportunities each day to attend Mass right in the center of campus and had a wonderful group in Life After Sunday and adviser Father Thomas Kennealy, S.J., who had a tremendous impact on my faith.  Second, I will never forget the wonderful experience I had in Jamaica on the Medical Mission Trip with the Office of Interfaith Community Engagement.  It was a very moving service experience and really reaffirmed my vocation to become a doctor.”

Beery graduated from Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron and is the daughter of Alan and Patricia Beery.

In her address to the graduates of Xavier’s Class of 2010, Beery offers this challenge: “I challenge you to overcome your fears and find your own ways to share the Xavier mission wherever you find yourselves in the days ahead and to do so with love. Live for others with humility and joy, not expecting anything in return, doing everything for the greater glory of God.”