‘The heart of the school’: Sister Jean Statue Unveiled

A bronze statue of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM was unveiled Aug. 21 on the West Quad, just outside of Gentile Arena. The unveiling commemorated what would have been her 107th birthday, the first after her death last October.

During her time in Rogers Park, first at Mundelein College and then at Loyola, Sister Jean served many different roles, including assistant dean of both schools, academic adviser and, most notably, chaplain for the Loyola men’s basketball team from 1996 to 2025. In honor of her role, the statue, slightly larger than life, depicts her holding a basketball.

Jean’s statue was sculpted by Littleton Alston, a notable sculptor and professor of sculpture at Creighton University. Alston depicts her seated on a bench beside an open seat, allowing students to sit beside her and reflect. 

Alston didn’t respond to The Phoenix’s request for comment.

Fourth-year Cate Riely said the statue serves as a way to remember Jean and carry her legacy of kindness and compassion for years to come.

“I have a lot of memories of Sister Jean, where we would run into each other,” Riely said. “It really feels like how it did when I was a freshman, seeing her around — and [now] she’ll continue to sit and watch us here.”

Third-year biology major Kathryn McVicar recalled Jean taking the time to talk with each incoming student at her first-year orientation in 2024. The memory has remained with McVicar as an example of how Jean loved to talk with students.

“She helped me spiritually, just having a mentor, just that idea that the door’s always open to talk to someone,” McVicar said. “I love how you can sit next to her. It’s like the door’s always open, and you can come talk to her.”

Jean often gave students valuable wisdom and life lessons, which made a strong impact on Riely, a double major in nursing and French literature.

“Sister Jean taught me the importance of a vocation and how to live that out, whether through helping with my patients or through working in the French department, and that showing up every day matters to people,” Riely said.

The level of care and compassion for students was one of the many things Sister Jean was known for. Both Riely and McVicar remembered Jean loved to get to know students and help them as best she could.

Fourth-year molecular biology student Kristina Cazares recalled a time during her freshman year in which Jean was able to help her and a friend.

“I was looking for priority registration for housing for my sophomore year, and the school was giving out raffle tickets to get priority for the really good dorms,” Cazares said. “My first thought was to go to Sister Jean’s office, that’s the only place that would truly be guaranteed — she would have them. We just have to go and ask.”

As chaplain for the men’s basketball team, Jean became a household name in 2018, when the team made their Cinderella run to the March Madness Final Four. Before every game, Jean would lead the team in prayer — a tradition McVicar specifically cherished, noting that she loved how during prayer, “everyone just got silent together.”

Even for those who never got the chance to speak with her, Jean still made an impact on their Loyola experience. This is especially true for second-year philosophy major Henry Racine since Jean passed away about six weeks into his freshman year. 

Although he never truly interacted with her, Racine said he wishes he had, as he heard a lot about Jean’s example of kindness and unwavering school spirit from his fellow students. 

“[Having] a nun who’s really into basketball, it’s really cool and inspires me to be a little nicer and more into Loyola and prouder of the school,” Racine said.

Jean was a part of the Loyola community for over 60 years and for many students, such as Cazares, “it truly felt like she was the heart of the school.” 

Jean’s statue now sits on the West Quad, right outside of Gentile Arena, where she cheered on the basketball team for nearly 30 years. Students and visitors alike can sit beside her and remember her contributions to the Loyola community.