Honoring Our ASSIST Students

On Tuesday, April 29, the Chatham Hall community gathered in the Chapel for a deeply meaningful tradition—this time, in honor of four extraordinary students who have spent just one year with us but have made a lasting impact: Maria (Mexico), Elisabeth (Germany), Martha (Germany), and Kathi (Germany), our ASSIST scholars.

In a special service modeled after our senior Chapel Talks, we gave these students the space and voice to share their reflections, stories, and gratitude. For many ASSIST students, this moment is not typically part of their one-year experience, making it all the more powerful and personal.

For 25 years, Chatham Hall has partnered with the ASSIST program, welcoming students from around the world into our community. These young women arrive with strong academic records and multilingual skills, but beyond that, they come as cultural ambassadors—intentional bridges between their home countries and ours.

During the service, we reflected on the power of shared experience. As we close out a month centered on the theme of legacy, this chapel reminded us that legacies aren’t only built over time—they're shaped in the depth of connection, in mutual curiosity, and in the courage to step into new worlds. Our ASSIST students have done just that, and in doing so, they’ve left a lasting imprint on our hearts and halls.

We were reminded through poetic words and heartfelt reflections that:

“Every time you leave home,
Another road takes you
Into a world you were never in.”
— John O’Donohue

Through their journey here, Maria, Elisabeth, Martha, and Kathi invited us into their worlds. In return, we offered them a place of belonging, discovery, and legacy. This chapel was a glimpse of the courage, joy, and openness they’ve brought to our campus—and a celebration of the ways we have shaped one another.

As we carry their stories forward, may we continue to “be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”

Watch below to hear from these amazing students.