Otto poses with an incoming student who is part of an Orange legacy family during the annual Orange Alumni Family Reception. (Photo courtesy of the Syracuse University Alumni Association’s Facebook page)
How does it feel to follow in your older sibling’s footsteps at the same university? SU News wanted to know so we asked five pairs of siblings—each including one who already graduated and one who is just starting their Orange journey—to reflect on their Welcome Week experiences and share how they will be forever connected by Syracuse University.
Shalom Acheampong
When siblings Shalom ’25 and Gabe ’29 Acheampong both chose civil engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science as their field of study and Shaw Hall as their home, they started to create a powerful Orange legacy.
From their hometown of Manchester, Connecticut, both found their paths converging at Syracuse in ways that would transform not just their academic futures, but their family bond.
For Shalom, she remembers her journey began with Welcome Week connections to upperclassmen who shared invaluable advice and resources, giving her the confidence to navigate college life.
Gabe Acheampong
She shared her own advice to her brother: “Your path is your own. Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone is figuring things out in their own way. Don’t be afraid to reach out for support or share your experiences.”
Her transformation from an introverted first-year student to a confident Syracuse student didn’t go unnoticed back home. “Seeing how she came back with a different demeanor and more confidence showed me how impactful being part of the Syracuse community can be,” Gabe says.
For Gabe, carrying on this Orange legacy represents profound honor and pride. “It means the world to me,” he says. “I’m very proud of what my sister did here. She laid out what I need to do to be a successful student.”
Peter Biglan
From helping with move-in during Welcome Week and catching up over Family Weekend to celebrating at Commencement, Peter Biglan ’29 enjoyed making the trip from Zionsville, Indiana, to visit his sister, Elena ’23, at Syracuse. As Peter contemplated what he wanted from his college experience, he quickly realized his search started and ended with Syracuse University.
“Watching my sister’s experience showed me how strong the academic and career support is, and that Syracuse can help me reach my goals,” says Peter, a supply chain management major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and Flint Hall resident.
Elena Biglan
Forming a strong bond with her Sadler Hall roommate provided Elena with a companion to explore campus and a lifelong friend. It also facilitated a smooth transition to college. That’s part of her advice to her brother as he begins his Orange journey.
“Adjusting can take some time as you navigate new academic and social landscapes. However, give it a few months, and you’ll find yourself feeling right at home,” says Elena, who earned a policy studies and citizenship and civic engagement degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Peter admits it’s special knowing he is continuing the Orange tradition his sister started. “Syracuse is more than just a university; it’s a community and a legacy that connects us both,” he says.
Rem Chenevert
The age gap between Miren ’20 and Rem Chenevert ’29 is 10 years. While the two were close growing up in San Antonio, Texas, Rem felt like their hobbies and experiences rarely overlapped.
Not anymore. With Rem pursuing a public relations degree in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, now “we have something we both can relate to. We share Syracuse. Even though our experiences will be different, I’m happy to have her as another Syracuse mentor,” says Rem, a Sadler Hall resident.
The camaraderie found in her Living Learning Community in Lawrinson Hall helped open doors and made Miren feel welcomed from the minute she stepped onto her floor.
Miren Chenevert
“Everyone had their doors propped open, going from room to room to meet each other and see if anyone needed help getting set up. I am still close friends with a few of my floormates,” Miren says.
When it comes to her own advice to her brother, it’s important to “enjoy and cherish every moment shared with friends in the dining hall, every Juice Jam, every freezing walk and every football and basketball game,” says Miren, who graduated with a psychology and forensic science degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Chloe Kim
Chloe Kim ’29 always looked up to her older sister, Ashley ’25, as they were growing up in Cresskill, New Jersey. After watching her sister grow as a student and a leader through hands-on learning opportunities, including a valuable David B. Falk College of Sport immersion trip to Los Angeles, Chloe followed in Ashley’s footsteps to Syracuse University.
“Syracuse supports its students and pushes them to achieve their academic and personal goals, and I wanted to be part of a community where I can challenge myself, make meaningful connections and flourish,” says Chloe, a resident of Lawrinson Hall.
Those meaningful connections began for Ashley when she attended Citrus in the City as part of Welcome Week with fellow first-year students living in DellPlain Hall.
Ashley Kim
“Welcome Week created the foundation of friendships and connections that shaped my entire Syracuse experience,” says Ashley, who graduated with a nutrition degree from the Falk College.
Ashley’s advice to Chloe is to “get involved as much as you can, as early as you can,” she says. “There are so many clubs, organizations and opportunities to help you find your community.”
“I feel honored and excited to not only continue but also share this Orange legacy,” Chloe says. “I can’t wait to create my own experiences while following in her footsteps.”
Luke Lybarger
After moving into his room in Flint Hall, Luke Lybarger ’25 embraced the chance to make new friends and enjoyed connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.
It was one of the many perks of Welcome Week, where “residence life felt like a melting pot I had never experienced before, giving me plenty of opportunities to start building friendships right away,” says Luke, who earned an information management and technology degree from the School of Information Studies.
Those friendships and lifelong connections were evident to Sophia Lybarger ’29 whenever she traveled to Syracuse from their hometown of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
Sophia Lybarger
“Every time I visited, I fell even more in love with the University’s beauty and its lively, welcoming atmosphere. Luke played a large role in my decision to attend Syracuse, and I am extremely grateful for his advice and support,” says Sophia, who is enrolled in the Whitman School.
Like her brother, Sophia will reside in Flint Hall during her first year. Sharing the Syracuse University experience makes Sophia feel “even more connected to my brother and excited to follow in his footsteps,” and makes Luke proud that his sister “chose the perfect place to grow and call home. Syracuse shaped me into who I am today, so it means a lot to know she’s part of that same community,” he says.
