Cancer Took Him, But Graduate’s Love Transformed Culture

It took me four years, but I finally learned what it means to Transform Culture in America from one classmate, and more importantly, a good friend, Alex Lynch.

Alex passed away Friday, May 8, in his farm home in Indianola, Iowa, less than a day after receiving his degree from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, in a special ceremony. He was a senior who battled cancer throughout high school and college, but he knew what it took to transform culture, and lived it out.

For four years, I have been asking myself questions about transforming culture, as I have tried to live and breathe everything Benedictine College, buying 110% into the schools’ vision — Transform Culture in America.

When news began spreading that Alex passed away Friday night, an off-campus party stopped, those gathered prayed a decade of the rosary and the hosts dispersed the crowd, encouraging students to go to adoration. St. Benedict’s Church was filled with students until late into the night, praying for Alex, sitting with the Lord. The next afternoon, 215 students gathered for Mass on a Saturday afternoon, in the midst of finals week, to pray for the repose of Alex’s soul.

Like my classmates, I too, went to pray for my dear friend, and in these moments of prayer, I realized that Alex’s life and witness answered a question that I have been asking myself for so long.

A finance major, Alex was not a social media star — heck, he only had an inactive Instagram page — nor was he a member of CAB, SGA, Gregorian Fellows or the Honor Society. He was by no means the ‘cool kid’ on campus. Yet everyone loved Alex, and Alex loved everyone.

There are probably 30 people, if not more, on this campus that would consider Alex one of their closest friends — a remarkable statistic considering that a 2023 PEW study found that the average American adult has fewer than four “close friends”.

That took a lot of work and dedication. Alex invested in his friends, was selfless with his time, and was always willing to talk or help with a project. He never complained and always wanted to know how the other was doing, first and foremost.

Even in the midst of battling cancer and frequent travels to Des Moines for treatment, he remained a joyful presence around campus, providing a witness to the Christian faith and what it means to suffer with Christ.

In four years at Benedictine, Alex established deep, deep roots and friendships with people from across a plethora of majors, extracurriculars and friend groups. He learned people’s names and their stories, all while sharing his own.

But most importantly, his faith was the source of his joy. He loved Christ above all else and wanted others to know Jesus. Even in his final week of hospice care, it was not about him. He asked visitors how they were doing, encouraged them to look to Christ, to pray for him, and to grow closer to Christ in the days ahead.

On campus, in the week leading up to his death, student groups organized rosaries, 300 students filled the Guadalupe Chapel, with students spilling into the Narthex.

On Thursday, May 7, less than 24 hours before Alex passed away, 30 Benedictine students traveled to Iowa to be with Alex and his family as Father Ryan Richardson offered a Baccalaureate Mass and President Stephen D. Minnis, along with chair of the School of Business Michael King, conferred a bachelor’s degree on him in a special graduation ceremony.

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The vision to Transform Culture in America is a bold vision, but a necessary one, one which the college works hard to form its students to fulfill.

When I set foot on campus four years ago, to really ‘Transform Culture’, I thought I had to develop my online presence, be unique, be charismatic, and become involved so that everybody knew my name. But at what expense? It’s a surface level approach, and while it casts a wide net, it does not descend to the depths. Sure, a lot of people might know your writing, or who you are, but how many actually know you?

At first, I thought it meant to create some broad, though often generic cultural impact on as many people as possible. Especially in this age of social media, a premium is placed on having the most followers, gaining the most views, obtaining the most clicks.

As senior year has progressed and I prepare for the next adventure, I’ve begun to think that perhaps there is another way — maybe one transforms culture not through their resume, but rather through their relationships.

Those who transform culture are the ones who truly know the people in that culture. Students came out of love for Alex, because Alex had loved and encountered them, building deep relationships with so many. Alex had established deep, deep roots on campus, evidenced by the plethora of people from so many walks of life that have showed up to pray and remember Alex.

Alex never made trendy Instagram posts, wrote an article, became a celebrity speaker, held an important position, or did any of the other attractive, wide-reaching activities oft-associated with “transforming culture”.

Rather, through conversations with Alex and his joyful witness to suffering, Alex encouraged people to grow closer to Christ, to turn to Jesus in their own trials and tribulations.

In four years, Alex’s witness and friendship changed and inspired hearts, leading so many to Christ. Through Alex, Christ transformed hearts. There was nothing sexy, trendy, or novel about Alex’s approach. He simply loved Christ, loved people, and desired for others to know God.

When he died, students flocked to the Lord, coming together to pray for and remember our brother. They turned to Christ in their moment of grief. Yet joy remained, as they recalled the tremendous impact Alex had in each of their lives.

If that’s not transforming a culture, then I don’t know what is.

By Jack Figge