The Encounter: From Rheims to Romeoville

Kurt Schackmuth, Ph.D.

Abstract

In “The Encounter: From Rheims to Romeoville,” Kurt Shackmuth chronicles the collaborative creation of an iconic campus sculpture that translates a foundational Lasallian narrative into experiential pedagogy. Centered on De La Salle’s transformative meeting with Adrien Nyel, the monument reimagines “encounter” as a ritualized threshold for students, inviting participation, vocation discernment, and communal identity. The project integrates mission-driven design, interdisciplinary collaboration, and institutional storytelling to produce an interactive symbol of hospitality and possibility. Ultimately, The Encounter demonstrates how material culture can animate charism and cultivate belonging within contemporary Catholic higher education contexts. It models formation through place making and embodied tradition.

Full Text

The Encounter: From Rheims to Romeoville

Keywords

Lasallian identity; experiential pedagogy; vocation formation; campus symbolism