Akshit Lnu, who goes by AK, is originally from India. Despite his parents’ suggestions to attend school in Australia with his sister or study computer science, AK made his way to the University of Dayton and ended up a health science major. He arrived at the UD with the sort of scheme only he could come up with, and while ChatGPT may have given him some help, along with a couple coin flips to point him in the right direction, AK’s zeal for life carried him all the way from India to Dayton, Ohio.
Having never been out of his home country and rather introverted, AK struggled at UD when he first arrived. That was until the fateful day in which he decided to join the Peers Advocating for Violence Education (PAVE) program which was a catalyst for eventually hitting his stride. His involvement with PAVE allowed AK to make friends that helped show him the ropes of the university and the country in general. In turn, AK has found an abundance of great opportunities to grow and expand his horizons.
Despite some hiccups along his path, AK has been resilient and has found many joys at the university, one of those being his work for the Registrar's Office and finding his real community. It was through working for the Registrar’s Office that he found the Honors Program. AK became eligible for membership in the Honors Program after his first semester, so he met with the honors staff and quickly found his place in the program. If you have ever stopped by Alumni Hall, odds are you have seen AK smiling in the halls. Furthermore, he cites the Honors Programs' very own Executive Director Dr.Picca and Records Coordinator Gina Lloyd as two of the people that helped and supported him wholeheartedly on his journey. He boasts that the Honors Program is a place in which he found community, a charism of the Marianists and one of the greatest strengths of UD.
Not only is AK a great example of what it means to be involved and flourishing on campus, but he is a great example of how authenticity and courage throughout struggle can lead to anywhere becoming home, even if that place is thousands of miles away. AK is continuing to make his mark on campus by standing up for others, being involved in many organizations, and sharing his joy for life with everyone he encounters. The University of Dayton needs AK the same way it needs you in our community, so don't be afraid to take that leap of faith and authentically express yourself because AK will let you know that it’s for the best. And who knows, you might even find yourself in the Honors Program!