Michela Coffaro, known as Mildred during her time at Mundelein, graduated in 1963 with a degree in sociology. Influenced by her Catholic upbringing and education, Michela talks of her brief stint joining the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM). Though that path did not last, Michela continued to have a high regard for Mundelein and the BVMs that taught there. She talks of how the BVMs made opportunities available to the students and saw the value of everyone as an individual. They were genuine women who lived by the values that they taught to their students, and to this day Michela sees the difference one person can make through words and actions. With these ideals in mind, Michela ran for and was elected as Student Body President while at Mundelein because she wanted to make a difference for the women on campus. She values the events she helped organize and participated in because it brought people together and gave everyone purpose and connection. Michela also remembers that professors had politicians come in to speak to classes, which was significant given the contentious climate of the Vietnam War that was going on.
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