JPII is excited to spotlight three of our alumni who were actively involved in college campus ministry and attended the SEEK 2025 conference in Salt Lake City, UT. SEEK is a five-day Catholic conference hosted by FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), designed to inspire and equip college students, youth ministers, clergy, and others to deepen their Catholic faith, encounter Christ, and engage in community. Amelia Geist (Class of 2022, Junior at the University of Alabama), Dayana Mendoza (Class of 2023, Sophomore at the University of Alabama Huntsville), and Tyler Greges (Class of 2024, Freshman at Auburn University) represented their campus ministries at the event. We asked them to share their experiences with campus ministry and their time at SEEK:

Amelia Geist
Amelia, Class of 2022, was a Junior at the University of Alabama majoring in Psychology and English at the time of the event. She was deeply involved in BAMA Catholic’s campus ministry. She served as the Pro-Life Director and led the First Saturday devotions. The SEEK 2025 conference was Amelia’s second time attending with BAMA Catholic. She went into the conference with an open heart, trusting that God would speak to her through the talks and the people she met. For Amelia, the most memorable part of the conference was strengthening her friendships with fellow Catholic students and making new connections. She credits JPII for sparking her passion for deepening her Catholic faith. Through her role as a sacristan for weekly Mass, her Theology classes, and the school’s mission to nurture students’ spiritual growth, JPII laid the foundation that BAMA Catholic continues to help her build. Amelia shared, “If it weren’t for JPII and their encouragement to pursue a relationship with Jesus, I truly wouldn’t be who I am today, and I probably would have lost the faith.” She added that campus ministry, especially through BAMA Catholic, has significantly impacted her college experience. Being surrounded by people who are also committed to pursuing faith and supporting one another on their spiritual journeys has allowed Amelia to grow closer to God and develop a stronger passion for her beliefs. Amelia planned to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, aiming to become a licensed psychologist specializing in serving Catholic and Christian communities.

Dayana Medoza

Dayana, Class of 2023, was a Sophomore at the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) at the time. Dayana actively participated in weekly Bible studies and community events through UAH Catholic Campus Ministry. The SEEK conference was her first time attending with her campus ministry group, and she found the experience to be truly incredible. Her key takeaways from the conference included prioritizing her relationship with God, taking time for reflection on how to strengthen that relationship, and focusing on the gifts God has given her rather than dwelling on what she may feel is lacking. She was especially moved by the Adoration and Confession night, which she found to be a powerful and meaningful experience shared with the entire community of attendees. Dayana shared that UAH Catholic Campus Ministry has played a vital role in helping her grow in her faith, providing her with a loving, welcoming community. She also credited JPII for helping her deepen her faith, saying, “Everywhere I looked, I was always surrounded by the presence and the love of Christ.” Participating in weekly Mass, Confession, retreats, and having access to the chapel at JPII, where she could pray, all contributed to her faith journey, both then and now. Dayana explained, “JPII’s Catholic experience made me desire for more people to know Christ, which encouraged me to get involved in both JPII’s and UAH’s campus ministry. The Lord was calling me to attend SEEK to continue this mission.” Outside of campus ministry, Dayana enjoys hiking and painting and was working toward a career in Nursing.

Tyler Greges

Tyler, Class of 2024, was a Freshman at Auburn University at the time. He was an active participant in meals, Bible studies, the biannual retreat, and other events through Auburn Catholic Campus Ministry. He attended SEEK for the first time with his ministry group, and his main takeaway was seeing how many college students are deeply passionate about their faith and actively living it out. One of the highlights for Tyler was attending Mass with 17,000 fellow college students, as well as the late-night activities featuring live music and mosh pits! Tyler’s involvement in campus ministry began on his second day at Auburn, when he was invited to a freshman night at Mitcham, the campus ministry house. After that initial visit, he felt drawn to return and visited it regularly throughout the week. He credits Auburn’s campus ministry for helping him grow in his faith and for introducing him to new friends who share that same faith. Tyler shared that meeting the Auburn campus minister during his JPII Senior Retreat was a key influence in his decision to join campus ministry at the college level. “Knowing the campus minister before I came to Auburn gave me a connection to the ministry that I have enjoyed ever since arriving here,” he said. Tyler was studying Mechanical Engineering and was also a member of the Men’s Club Soccer Team.

Please join us in praying for all of our alumni who are actively involved in college campus ministry, the campus and FOCUS ministers that guide them, as well as for those who are still seeking a faith-based community. May they continue to grow in their faith, be strengthened by the support of others, and be guided by God's presence in their lives.