Loyola Celebrates New Academic Year by Honoring Beloved Rambler and International Icon Sister Jean

Contact:  
Gabby Abbott  
Media@LUC.edu  
773.369.5358

CHICAGO—On Friday, August 21, Loyola University Chicago marked the beginning of a new academic year by commemorating beloved Rambler and international icon, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, with a new statue on the Rogers Park campus. The statue unveiling and dedication, taking place on what would have been her 107th birthday, was part of the first Loyola Welcome Week since her passing on October 9, 2025, at 106. 

The slightly larger than life-size, cast bronze statue of Sister Jean is seated on a bench on the West Quad of Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus, inviting students, faculty, staff, and members of the community to gather, reflect, and pray, honoring her ministry of presence and lifelong commitment to being a person for others.  

“Sister Jean’s ministry of presence was a gift to generations of Ramblers,” said Loyola President Mark C. Reed. “Her compassion, joy, and unwavering care touched countless lives across our University and far beyond. This statue will stand as a lasting reminder of the extraordinary way Sister Jean made people feel seen, welcomed and valued, embodying the Jesuit ideals of accompaniment and being a person for others. We are grateful for her life, her witness, and the enduring legacy of love and community she leaves at Loyola.”

Sister Jean, a fixture on campus for more than six decades, became an international celebrity during the 2018 NCAA March Madness tournament, as the team’s chaplain in 2018 at the age of 98. But to members of the Loyola community, Sister Jean was known for far more than her love of basketball. From teaching education at Mundelein College to caring for students’ spiritual lives through campus ministry, she was a constant source of support and inspiration to the entire Loyola community, serving as a familiar face who was always willing to lend an ear or offer advice.  

“Sister Jean Dolores loved spending time with young people,” shared Sister LaDonna Manternach, President of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “A good listener, she inspired many to pursue their dreams with purpose. Her deep trust in God guided her life and encouraged others to trust their own journey. With this statue on Loyola’s campus, may she continue to watch generations of students come and go, and may they live their dreams with intention, purpose, and trust in God.”

The statue, created by renowned sculptor Littleton Alston, was designed to capture Sister Jean’s charisma and signature style, wearing a letter jacket, maroon and gold scarf, the custom sneakers bearing her name, and holding a Loyola basketball.  

“I hope my sculpture creates something of Sister Jean’s spirit, and that I evoke memories of her for the people who know her and love her, and for the many future students and admirers that will come to this very campus to see her,” said Alston, a professor of sculpture at Creighton University.  

Alston’s works have been exhibited nationally and internationally and are included in many public and private collections. A few of his most recent public artworks include a cast bronze bust portraying actor James Earl Jones at the James Earl Jones Broadway Theatre in New York City, as well as larger-than life size bronze sculptures of Football Hall of Fame player Gale Sayers in Omaha and author Willa Cather at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C.

The statue dedication was part of Loyola’s Ramblers Welcome Day, a day of events bringing thousands of students, faculty, and staff to campus. Following the statue dedication, the University community continued its joy-filled tradition of welcoming new students with a cheer tunnel. The incoming students begin classes on August 24.  
 
The Loyola class of 2030 reflects the University’s commitment to academic excellence. Of the 3,166 freshman: more than 92 percent have taken advanced placement courses, 30 percent are the first in their families to attend college, and they represent more than 1,000 different high schools. Additionally, the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing is set to welcome its largest undergraduate cohort to date.

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About Loyola University Chicago 
Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes—including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences—Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country’s most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.