Juniors Welcome Guest Speaker Ryan Manion

As part of the second Distinguished Speaker Series, Ryan Manion, President of the Travis Manion Foundation, visited campus on Thursday for an inspiring lunchtime talk. Hosted by juniors Nick Weise and Seb Hall, the event centered around themes of servant leadership, resilience and the power of community.

Ryan shared the moving story of her brother, Marine Corps 1stLt Travis Manion, who gave the ultimate sacrifice on April 29, 2007, during his second deployment to Iraq. While leading a patrol in Fallujah, Travis and his team were ambushed. In an act of heroism, he led a counterattack that drew enemy fire away from his wounded comrades, ultimately saving every member of his patrol. For his bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Valor. Ryan recounted how the Travis Manion Foundation was born from this legacy, and she encouraged students to live with purpose, guided by her brother's powerful motto: “If Not Me, Then Who?”