Honorary Degree Bestowed Upon Cancer Warrior Lauren Hill

Monday, February 9, 2015 at 6:28 AM

By Mike Perleberg

Greendale's Lauren Hill has received an honorary doctorate degree from Mount St. Joesph University on Friday, February 6. Photo by Mount St. Joseph University Athletics. (Cincinnati, Oh.) - Lauren Hill can add a college degree to her list of accomplishments during her inspirational fight against brain cancer. Mount St. Joseph University bestowed an honorary doctorate of humane letters degree on Hill during a private ceremony with her friends and family Friday at the campus’ Mater Dei Chapel. The school says the degree recognizes Hill's positive attitude, determination and faith while holding off her inoperable cancer to play college basketball and raise more than $1.5 million for cancer research. "Lauren has served as an inspiration to us all," said MSJU President Dr. Tony Aretz. "Her determined spirit, positive attitude and love of God have taught us all valuable lessons as she has lived the Mount's mission." The 19-year-old Mount freshman is a Lawrenceburg High School graduate who lives with her family in Greendale. Since playing in her college basketball debut for MSJ on November, she has brought great awareness to the terminal brain cancer she is stricken with, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Lauren's mother, Lisa, shared a message on the Lauren's Fight For Cure Facebook page on Saturday stating, "I am such a proud mom. My amazing strong and beautiful daughter keeps amazing me at every turn and every goal met. We spent time with friends and family after the ceremony. It was so nice to be surround by all the people we love. Thanks everyone for your continued support and prayers that feed us the strength to keep going." Below is the citation that was read during Lauren's honorary degree ceremony:

Lauren Elizabeth Hill, Honorary Degree Recipient

Never give up. This simple phrase is often offered as a form of support for a person to accomplish a task. Not only has the phrase given Lauren Elizabeth Hill encouragement, it has given her much strength and has become her mantra.

Lauren was an 18-year-old senior at Lawrenceburg High School when she was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), an inoperable brain tumor that robs many young children of their lives. She was shocked at the diagnosis and did not know how it would affect her life each day. Her sadness led to deep reflection and discussions with God and her parents about the direction to take. Lauren decided she was called to help others, educate people about the disease and to raise funds for research.

Through radiation and chemotherapy, Lauren never gave up her quest to play basketball and graduate from Lawrenceburg High School with her friends.

She longed to play basketball in college and had already committed to attend the Mount. Women’s Head Basketball Coach Dan Benjamin and his assistants were ready to help her live out that dream – to play one more game. But time was of the essence for Lauren, as she grew weaker and tired easily. A host of people dedicated numerous hours to handle logistics of the Mount’s first game of the season against Hiram College, moved to Xavier University to accommodate a larger crowd. On November 2, Lauren and her Lions teammates walked onto the court of the Cintas Center to the cheers and applause of over 10,000 people, many who sported t-shirts that said “Never Give Up 22.” It was a most inspiring game, with gracious and grateful players. The Hills selected The Cure Starts Now as their charity, with money going for brain cancer research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

The fundraising continued as Lauren and her coach sent out a challenge to Layup4Lauren – spin around five times and shoot with your left hand. If no basket is made, $10 is donated to The Cure. She sent out the challenge to many – near and far – including LeBron James, players at other universities and high schools. Her goal was to raise $1 million, which was achieved on New Year’s Eve.

Lauren lives out the words of St. Elizabeth Seton: “Live well to the grace of the moment. Do your best and leave the rest to God.”

She is a hero to many, including a number of pediatricians who have learned more about what their young patients face through Lauren. Along the way, Lauren found a hero – a little boy named Luke who also suffers from a brain tumor. On her visits she wears a blue super-hero cape, with her trademark number 22. She recently presented a blue cape to Luke with the wording “Super Luke 22.”

Today it is with great pride that Mount St. Joseph University presents an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Lauren Elizabeth Hill for her courage to never give up, her faith in God and her respect and concern for others.