BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY, LILLY MASSA-MCKINLEY, RECEIVES 2021 CAMPUS ADVISOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Nomination by Shelby Allen:

“Lilly has been the Bellarmine University Dance Marathon(BUDM) advisor for four years. When our program was transitioning advisors, Lilly stepped up to the table and took on a program with a great deal of potential and needed a ton of support and guidance in its early years. She did not just take on this new role; she embraced it. Lilly is everything that a program would want in a campus advisor. She guides us along every step of the way, never missing a meeting even if we meet at 10 pm and she has to sneak out of the house after putting her three young children to bed. The example that Lilly has set for us as board members is that the work we are doing is important and that we are truly making a difference in the lives of children in our community.

Over the last few years of Lilly as our campus advisor, we have increased our program involvement, increasing our total raised by 34% in 2019, and in the past year, she has guided us through one of the hardest years yet. We hosted a successful dance marathon because of Lilly. She pushed us day in and day out to believe in ourselves and not give up. While things constantly changed around us from classes online, the status of our marathon being changed weekly, and the general disconnect experienced by so many students, she led us to one of our most successful years. She lifts our spirits with her can-do attitude and has a love for changing kids’ health. A great deal of Lilly’s passion comes from her own experience with the hospital we support, Norton Children’s Hospital. Her oldest child was a patient when she was born with Leukemia. The fight that she and her family fought was hard, but now her daughter sits at the table with us every week as we prepare for our dance marathon.

Here is what other students have to say:

“Lilly and I have had a profound connection from the start. She uses her empathy throughout her role with BUDM. She is a true leader for our group, and I do not know what we would do without her.”

– Anna Maria-Beck (Hospital Relations Chair, Class of 2020)

“When I think of Lilly, I think of determination. Because every year at BUDM, she was determined that she would have me on the executive board, and I am glad that I could. Lilly was always there and always had an open mind to our ideas. She is a huge puzzle piece in what we call BUDM.”

– Jameelah Lockhart (Morale, Chair Class of 2021)

“Lilly is an amazing advisor! She is always willing to help us in any way possible, and it is truly rooting for success! She is approachable and easy to communicate with, and her passion for BUDM is demonstrated in her dedication to the team!”

– Grace Staples (Entertainment Chair, Class of 2022)

Lilly means the world to BUDM and us as leaders. One day, I hope to be half the woman that she is. Her passion and love for a Hospital that gave her a lifetime with her daughter are why I dance. Without Lilly, our program would not be what it is today and what I know it will be tomorrow under her advising.”