JWU Students Bring the Wildcat Way to Life

All JWU students, from first-year to seniors, have one thing in common — they are all Wildcats. The Wildcat Way — Pride, Courage, Character and Community — is at the core of being a Wildcat.

For returning students, these four values are already part of their JWU journey, shaping how they learn, succeed and support each other. New students are just discovering the Wildcat Way as they explore campus, meet faculty, start to build friendships and get involved with organizations, athletics and events.

Wildcats from the Providence and Charlotte Campuses shared their own experiences of living with Pride, Courage, Character and Community and how the Wildcat Way is helping shape their JWU journey.

PRIDE

"Being a JWU Student gives you the opportunity to start your life and career in a new way. From required internships and study abroad opportunities to hybrid class schedules and no classes on Fridays, JWU helps you prepare for your life ahead.”
— John Billinis ’26, Charlotte Campus, Corporate Accounting and Financial Analysis major, from South Carolina

“I help with JWU’s table for Providence’s Pride Parade and have done this since my first year here. I am proud of how my skills have developed over time. I also see how excited people become when they visit JWU’s table at Pride and see the diversity, openness and inclusion which makes them feel welcome.”
— Taytum Camacho ’26, Providence Campus, Psychology major, from Rhode Island

"This university is so cool. There are so many different programs and organizations and JWU is great at developing unity among them. There's also a lot of school spirit, especially with the Collegiate Ambassador Team (CAT) during orientation — they motivate you and make you proud to be a Wildcat.”
— Denise Meyer ’26, Providence Campus, Psychology major, from Rhode Island

“I'm proud that during the Sophomore Portfolio class that showcases your projects from the previous two years I won three out of the five awards presented including best website and best print portfolio.”
— Natan Laufer ’26, Providence Campus, Design major, from New York

“I’m proud that I decided to attend JWU and move here from New York. Out of the schools that were on my list JWU was the farthest away from home. Now I am excited to be here and have already met some really cool people. It was a difficult choice, but I think it was the right one.”
— Nicholas Scagluiso ’29, Providence Campus, Hospitality Management major, from New York

“I am proud of how much I involved myself on campus. I helped develop the Honors Program and the Honors Student Association club. As a student assistant I help the admissions team bring more students to campus and as a social media ambassador, I create content to promote JWU. It’s easy to gain a sense of belonging at JWU, and it has brought me out of my shell.”
— Makenna Seymour ’28, Charlotte Campus, Culinary Nutrition major, from North Carolina

“I’m proud to be a first-generation student at JWU. Also, for the longest time I didn't know what to do after high school. When I realized I wanted to major in psychology, I became passionate, goal-driven and wanted to succeed.”
— Alyssa Wilson ’26, Providence Campus, Psychology major, from Rhode Island

Hear more from Providence Wildcats about how they are living the Wildcat Way and what gives them a sense of Pride as a JWU student.  

COURAGE

“I stepped out of my comfort zone the day I decided to become a peer tutor. I had always kept to myself and wasn’t super confident. At the end of my first year here, I reached out about becoming a peer tutor. After debating with myself, I decided to try it, and it has been great. I have become more social, knowledgeable and confident about academics.”
— Carter Bonini ’26, Charlotte Campus, Business Administration major, from North Carolina

"For a counseling class we had to do role play as part of a counseling group. For the final project we had to lead the group. I was scared and didn't know if I had the skills for that, but also knew I was prepared. But I did it and did it well. Afterwards I was more confident about my skills, realized I had been taught well, knew I needed to trust my own abilities and that I can use those skills outside of JWU.”
— Taytum Camacho ’26

“At the beginning of my first year here, going to class was uncomfortable because I had social anxiety. Now, I have practiced public speaking and am not very nervous about it.”
— Natan Laufer ’26

I stepped outside of my comfort zone when I decided to become a JWU orientation leader. I wasn't used to getting other people to go outside of their comfort zone because I had trouble with that myself. But this position taught me how to make others feel welcomed and like they had a family at JWU.
— Zamya Sanford-Johnson ’26, Business Administration major, Charlotte Campus, from New Jersey

"I stepped outside of my comfort zone when I lived in the dorms my first year. I was very shy back then, so I was putting myself in a different community and a different atmosphere. I also joined some activities, putting myself around new people and new experiences. It was definitely worth it to do these things.”
— Alyssa Wilson ’26

CHARACTER

“JWU has helped me become the leader I aspire to be. From being this year’s SGA president to captain of my athletic teams, JWU has given me the opportunity to gain valuable leadership skills for my personal and professional life.”
— John Billinis ’26

“You have many opportunities at JWU, but you have to be self-reliant and discover how to make things happen. I'm proud that I now have the skills to reach out to others and get things done that I need to succeed. When I graduate, that will translate into my personal and professional life.”
— Taytum Camacho ’26

"I realized the people at JWU are very ambitious. Everyone works hard and works towards the same goal — a career doing something we love. Being around people who are even more ambitious than I am, has shaped me into the person I am.”
— Denise Meyer ’26

“JWU has shaped me into a well-rounded adult who can confidently tackle any challenge that comes my way. I have always been able to handle many things, but JWU pushed me to challenge myself more and to ask for help. I have grown exponentially as a person here.”
— Makenna Seymour ’28

“Before coming to JWU I was very shy and didn't want to open up. Because JWU is very welcoming and because of the community here, I have opened up. JWU helped me be more personable and interact and communicate more with people.”
— Alyssa Wilson ’26

COMMUNITY

“As a student athlete, I already knew 25 people to hang out with by the time classes started. But then I realized that talking with classmates is what truly builds community. There are so many interesting people around you and all you need to do is start a simple conversation — that can help you build great friendships.”
— Carter Bonini ’26

“The Bridge has been my community since I started working there my first year. I’m also in a sorority, Sigma Delta Tau. Even on the first day of classes, seeing my sisters on campus, waving to them and saying ‘hi, I’ll see you later,’ helps me know that wherever I am on campus, I will always have someone I can check in with.”
— Taytum Camacho ’26

“I am on the board of the Latina Student Alliance (LSA), a club for Hispanic and Latin students, but everyone comes to our events. When I’m around the club, or at work at the Bridge, I feel accepted and able to talk about my interests with other people. That’s my community.”
— Denise Meyer ’26

"My class cohort is a very tight-knit community. The whole design department is like a big family. Most of the time we call our teachers by their first names, and we go to them for help. They ask us, ‘Hey, how are you?’ and ‘How was your weekend?’ We connect with them on a personal level as well as them being our professors.”
— Natan Laufer ’26

“I find community on campus throughout the residence halls. This year, I became a Head Resident Assistant and through that position I've met more people and made more friends as well as having a safe space for my resident students.”
— Zamya Sanford-Johnson

“My community is all around JWU. I'm from Rhode Island, but living on campus my first year helped me get a lay of the land, make new friends and start seeing familiar faces. Everyone, including the professors, is very friendly and welcoming no matter where you are on campus. And I love all my professors.”
— Alyssa Wilson ’26

Every Wildcat finds their own sense of Community at JWU. Direct from Charlotte, hear what these students consider their Community on campus.  

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