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Flyers for Life

Thankful to be a forever Flyer

By Sarah Hemler `13

Author bio
City: Louisville, Kentucky
Profession: Medical Device Sales
Favorite UD Home: 107 Lawnview
UD Role: I enjoy serving as a 2013 class representative for day10 because it is a great way to stay connected to the University, give back with my time and contribute to the Alumni office’s efforts to connect and bring value to young alumni.

I am thankful for so many things in my life. I am blessed with an incredible family, great friends, a fiancé and an adorable dog. I have a great job that challenges me and is both rewarding and fulfilling. Many of these things I can attribute to my time at UD — from the friends I made to the professors and courses that prepared me to be successful, there are many reasons I’m thankful to be a Flyer! I’m sharing some of my reasons below, but I bet every alum could add a few of their own.

Reasons I’m thankful to be a Flyer:

  1. Friends for life: UD gave me the opportunity to meet people who I still call my best friends! Attending our five-year reunion this past summer was an amazing opportunity to see so many friends and classmates. If you haven't attended a reunion yet, I highly recommend making the trip!
  2. Family tradition: My parents met at UD, my grandfather used to work at UD, my aunts attended UD and my younger brother graduated just a few years ago. It's easy to fall in love with the University when you grow up surrounded by UD pride and spirit.
  3. Bragging rights: The Dayton Flyers, our research rankings, the companies and organizations alumni work for or lead - there are so many reasons I’m proUD to talk about UD!
  4. Two homes: No matter where life takes me, UD will always be my second home. I can visit whenever I want to reminisce with friends, talk to an inspiring professor or find a quiet moment in the Chapel.
  5. Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: While I carry the memory of Lotus Notes with me, I no longer carry my seven-pound Tangent laptop. But, they both taught me to appreciate change, especially in the form of Gmail and my MacBook Air.
  6. Kitchen creativity: Working at ArtStreet Cafe and cooking Dali paninis makes you feel like a chef, and whipping up lattes brings out your inner barista. Today I try to use that same creativity to keep my meals at home interesting!
  7. Friends in all places: I see Flyers wherever I go in life. Even a hectic morning in an airport is made better by hearing someone shout “Go Flyers!” when they see the logo on my sweatshirt. 
  8. Pay it forward: Donors made my scholarship possible, and that scholarship is the reason I could attend UD. I appreciate the many people who supported my education. I try to follow their example by giving back to support current students.
  9. Career Success: The UD Sales Center opened my senior year and provided valuable hands-on experience and networking. My coursework at UD prepared me for the line of work I do now, and the support definitely does not end at graduation!
  10. All the pizza: Number 10 on this list has to be that I’m thankful for the Cousin Vinny’s BIG10 Pizza — making pizza accessible to all of UD’s campus.
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Since graduating, Sarah Richard ’19 has become a proud Dayton transplant who is heavily involved in local and regional environmental justice efforts. She has worked for a local non-profit, CleanEnergy4All, co-authored international and local food system grant efforts, and joined a team in the local community working to create a more just local economy rooted in food access.

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