By Olivia Reinhart, Avery Williams, Alexis Podgers and Keyton Tipple
Monday April 20, Student Government Association partnered with Latino Student Association to host a campus wide prayer walk at 7:30 p.m.
LSA is a club at Indiana Wesleyan that started 4 years ago, they meet every Wednesday at 6 p.m.
“I describe it as a safe space for the Latino community here. We gather together for meetings and events we do together,” said Marlem Romo, SGA vice president. “It’s a way to connect together when we feel homesick and want to eat good food.”
Spiritual Formation Office, SGA and LSA in collaboration, planned the Prayer Walk event.
Romo and members of SGA planned the event. Shanta Wedding, Jackson Bontrager and Kara Simonson were among the members that assisted.
The prayer walk started at the Williams Prayer Chapel, the path followed the outskirts of campus stopping at the new welcome center, and outside the lodges.
The event was well attended, with students, professors, SGA and LSA members present.
Students participated in praying for the IWU campus and the country, sharing burdens with each other and being in the Lord’s presence.
“I think it’s something that students hunger for, a space where burdens are not dismissed, where they can share and pray about it. Because as a Christian University what else should we be doing other than praying?” said Kaylynn Miller, director of academic affairs.
SGA provided a space for students to walk through life in prayer with other people.
“I hope it sparks a trend of unity and prayer,” Miller said.
The LSA board finished their year off with a final meeting on April 22, recapping their impact from the year. They discussed their events and ways that they brought unity to the IWU community.
The first event LSA held was Noche de Huegos, a kickoff event on November 24 with games, Mexican hot chocolate and conchas.
The organization was formed from a group of freshman students who heard that LSA was not running at the time. They explained their desire to the school about bringing it back, and the club was reinstated in about two weeks.
“Everyone just kind of stepped up and was like, ‘I’m willing to do this,” said LSA President, Wilka Marie Medrano.
Those who were interested in leadership for LSA ran for a position and gave a speech. Then an anonymous vote was cast to determine the leaders.
“I think being a freshman and stepping into the role, I didn’t really know what I was thinking, but I knew that I wasn’t really scared,” Medrano said. “I was just passionate and I knew that I wanted to make something happen.”
LSA hosted their final activity this past weekend, a women’s retreat for the leadership team.
The retreat was a barbeque in Noblesville for the leaders and their parents.
LSA is already working to plan events for next year, one of which being La Fiesta. For this gathering, they want to hold a large outdoor party during Hispanic Heritage month.
