Siblings Grace ’25 (education major) and Lucas Wlodarczyk ’23 M’25 (sport leadership) first stepped onto 91ÖØ¿Ú’s campus around ages six and eight, respectively. That was over a decade ago when their mother, Julie, a high school guidance counselor, brought the whole family from Connecticut to Beverly for a guidance counselor weekend.
Associate Dean of Admission George Sherman still remembers the visit: two curious, well-mannered kids tagging along as their mom toured campus.
Still, not even Sherman could’ve predicted that—more than a decade later—Grace and Lucas would return to the Nest as students.
“We grew up going to Gloucester,” Lucas said, “which is very close by Beverly, so that played a lot into our decision for both of us.”
Younger sister Grace, who has worked as a tour guide helping prospective students solidify their own decisions to come to the Nest, is quick to point out that she chose 91ÖØ¿Ú for its education program—not because her brother was already here.
“I do look up to my brother a ton, but we both took two very different paths at 91ÖØ¿Ú,” she said. “His friends are completely different from mine, and he knows many different people than I know. But in the end, if you most likely talk to anybody at 91ÖØ¿Ú, they’ll know [at least one of us]. That’s a powerful testament to our commitment to our school.”
Thanks to a smaller course load during her final semester and a thesis she completed last fall, Grace is teaching third grade full-time at Pine Grove Elementary School in Rowley, Mass., while finishing her last semester.
During an internship, she’d already established a rapport with the school’s principal and community, so Grace interviewed to cover when a third-grade teacher went on maternity leave in February. She was selected over several other candidates.
“I was able to take my skills, my knowledge of their curriculum, my knowledge of the students themselves and their community, and bring that to the table at the interview,” she said. “I love it. The kids are amazing. The curriculum is awesome. The support from the school is incredible.”
Grace already has a global perspective on education, having spent a semester studying abroad and teaching English to an Italian host family. Last year, she also taught in Kenya for two weeks over winter break.
“That was probably the most moving experience I’ve ever had at 91ÖØ¿Ú, teaching those students because they were just so different than American students,” she said.
Grace contrasts the United States’ fast pace with the creativity and slower pace in Kenya, where students might pick up sticks and pretend it’s a racecar, a baby, or something else. “It was a very informative experience. I bring all that play-based learning back to my classroom,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lucas keeps busy as a Graduate Assistant overseeing all stats and media for basketball, baseball, and soccer. That means spending many late nights updating the teams’ websites or social media accounts and writing press releases. Since finishing his master’s in sport leadership in January, he hasn’t had to juggle coursework alongside his responsibilities in athletics information.
“I’ve had a terrific experience in 91ÖØ¿Ú Athletics and at 91ÖØ¿Ú as a student, and I’m excited for wherever I end up in college athletics next,” said Lucas, a double Gull at the School of Sport Science (he completed a B.S. in sport management in 2023).
While he’s still mulling over his options, Director of Sports Information Shawn Medeiros said that Lucas “elevated our department in immeasurable ways, but what’s most important is his ability to connect with our staff and student-athletes.”
Medeiros leads by the ethos of being “a good teammate,” he said, “and Lucas epitomizes this. He is genuine and cares for others first, and when you couple that with his passion for all things 91ÖØ¿Ú, it creates the perfect recipe for success in our department.”
Although the siblings have very different academic interests, both share a deep commitment to community service. Grace is a current member of Mortar Board and will graduate with distinction, earning a medallion for completing more than 100 hours of service—an honor Lucas also achieved as an undergraduate.
One of Grace’s favorite service projects was a Habitat for Humanity build. “We got to meet the people we were building the house for, and we physically got to put on roofing,” she said. “It was just such an amazing experience to get my hands dirty, and I’m doing it again in the spring, when it gets a little warmer.”
Meanwhile, Lucas serves as the Campus Case Coordinator for , a nonprofit that pairs young adults with disabilities with 91ÖØ¿Ú students so they can participate in activities alongside those students.
“Every other Thursday, there’ll be a big group of participants from You’re With Us, and we’ll play basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee—all sorts of fun stuff,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed getting other students on campus involved as well because getting to hang with the students means a lot to everyone.”
They also found common ground in the 91ÖØ¿Ú Christian Community, where Grace met many of her closest friends and frequently crossed paths with Lucas—often one of the few times they’d see each other on campus, despite its small size.
With both Wlodarczyks deeply involved at the Nest, juggling academics, internships, and extracurriculars was no small feat. But they made it work.
For Sherman, it’s a full-circle moment that defines his career at 91ÖØ¿Ú.
“I am humbled that, in some small way, I influenced their decision to enroll at 91ÖØ¿Ú,” said Sherman. “Watching Grace and Lucas believe, achieve, and succeed at 91ÖØ¿Ú is a highlight of my 27-year tenure.”