When Danielle Brown starts a new chapter of her life this fall at Newman University, she’ll arrive as one of the school’s prestigious St. Newman Full-tuition Scholarship recipients.
Brown is one of only five students to receive the annual scholarship this year. Brown, who plans to major in nursing at Newman, said the moment she found out about the scholarship was unforgettable.
“It was actually the day before my graduation party when I found out,” she said. “I had just gotten home from setting up for the party, and my mom and sister were still at the venue finishing up some things. When I was told over the phone that I ended up with the St. Newman Scholarship offer, I was entirely speechless.”
She called her sister, who put Brown on speaker so her mom could hear the news as well.
“My sister and mom were so excited for me,” Brown said. “To get the offer was completely unexpected.”
Brown chose to pursue nursing because she wants to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
“I also always want to have the opportunity to grow in my knowledge and to learn more about the skills I master,” she said. “I believe the medical field is the perfect place for those aspirations, and I’m excited to begin my career in nursing.”
Brown said the value of personal connection was also key to her decision, especially coming from Clearwater High School with just 400 students.
“Some days, the only motivation I have to come to school is the friendships I’ve built with my teachers,” she said. “Now that I’ve chosen Newman, I don’t have to miss that.”
Wrestling with faith
Her journey to Newman — and to her faith — has been anything but easy. The tragic loss of her brother caused Brown’s spiritual foundation to shake.
“I felt betrayed by God because it seemed like he ignored the one thing I truly wanted most,” she said.
In the years that followed, Brown traded her upbringing’s Christian and nondenominational Protestant faiths for paganism and witchcraft.
“I was content but starving and I shut down the part of me that told me I was still hungry for something more in religion,” she said. “It wasn’t until I let my heart talk during a worship service that I realized what that ‘something’ was. It was God that my heart wanted, and I’m so thankful the Lord finally convinced me to follow that longing I’d always shut off.”
Her search ultimately led her back to Christianity. After researching different denominations, she felt especially drawn to Catholicism.
“I admired the formality of Mass and the rich history of the Church itself,” she said. “This is why I decided to start my journey to becoming a Catholic and God-honoring woman.”
Faith is now central to how Brown lives and understands her purpose.
“I try to honor God by showing his grace and his magnificent love to everyone I meet,” she said. “I try my hardest to forgive even those who have hurt me, because I want to honor what Christ taught us.”
A holistic education that encourages personal growth
Brown describes Newman as a “perfect fit” for its close-knit family feel and the opportunity to grow in her faith, education and personal interests like theater and music.
“At Newman, I don’t have to leave any part of myself behind,” she said. “I also don’t have to choose between focusing on my academics and building a better relationship with God because the Lord is in everything at Newman.”
Her campus visit only affirmed that belief. Brown recalled meeting Professor and Director of Theatre Mark Mannette, who had previously offered her a callback after her audition at the Kansas Thespian Festival. When illness kept her from attending, Mannette stayed in touch — and welcomed her warmly during her tour.
“I met Mr. Mannette on my campus visit and instantly I felt welcome,” she said. “We conversed about my wonderful director, Lex Rhoadarmer, and he even let my mom and me tour the auditorium.”
A bright future at Newman University
As she prepares to move onto campus in August, Brown said she looks forward to meeting one of Newman’s best assets: the people.
“I’m very excited to meet new friends, classmates and teachers,” she said. “Although my path may be difficult, ultimately I know it’ll be worth it not only because of my future career, but because of the wonderful people I will meet along the way.”
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