The Manresa Program
“What do I want to do with my life?” “What does it mean to be successful?” “Can I have career success and happiness?”
Many students arrive on the Heights asking these age-old questions, many times feeling pressure to figure it all out quickly – what to study, what kind of job it will produce – and these questions continue as goals are narrowed down – will this career fulfill me, whatever that means? Although it can feel overwhelming, Le Moyne’s nationally recognized four-year Manresa program has a reputation for helping you figure it all out.
Manresa’s Superpower
Manresa’s superpower is connection – to friends, the College community, employers and, most importantly, yourself.
As a Manresa fellow, you can expect:
- The fellowship of a small group with six to eight fellow students and two mentors
- Greater clarity about your values
- Focused time to determine your goals
- A guaranteed internship placement
- Career counseling
- Thorough job interview practice
- A fantastic resume entry
In your small groups, you each tackle big questions about your future career goals and what matters most to you in life. You then come together to process your reflections and ideas. Each group is assigned two Le Moyne mentors to guide and support, but the peer-to-peer support encourages powerful perspectives.
Manresa Takes Time
In a dynamic, bustling world, Manresa attempts to support the whole Le Moyne student: It provides a safe space to figure things out—to sit, write and think. It provides meaningful professional and networking connections. And, above all else, it helps you become, well, you.
Why Manresa?
Manresa fosters career development and exploration of personal values, but the magic is in the conversations and activities experienced within your Manresa small group.
Manresa Year-by-Year
Small group questions, reflection prompts and experiences are tailored to your current academic year at Le Moyne so the experience is relevant and meaningful in real-time.
Year 1 – "Become You"
Discover who you are – your core strengths, distinctive talents and deepest passions – and who you have the potential to become. Consider the career and life paths that could best fulfill your potential.
Year 2 – "Values in Action"
Discover your passions and how you can put your talents to work for the greater good. Deepen and clarify your core values, enhance your understanding of the needs of the world around you, and learn to think—and act—creatively for yourself and your community.
Year 3 – "Think Forward"
Expand your perspective, get connected and put what you are learning into practice with internships, job shadowing, study abroad, service learning and student mentoring experiences.
Year 4 – “Meaningful Success”
Learn how you can use your Le Moyne education to pursue a richer sense of success—the tireless effort to become your best self through living with and for others.
Lifelong Relationships
To date, over 750 students have benefited from Manresa’s thought-provoking opportunities and dolphin-to-dolphin connections.
Voices of Manresa: Personal Journeys
Discover how the Manresa program has shaped the personal and professional journeys of three of our students. See how this transformative experience helped them grow, connect, and prepare for the future.
Together We're Better
"No one person can do everything on his or her own. We need to surround ourselves with other people who want the best for us and who are invested in our success. That is one of my biggest takeaways (so far) from my time in the Manresa Program. Manresa has helped me to build a solid support system made up of other Le Moyne students and faculty members. I have discovered how critical networking is, and that the relationships you build and carefully nurture can take you a long way. This summer I worked in Washington, D.C., as an intern at ACG Advocacy, a bipartisan organization that advises Fortune Global 500 corporations, states, municipalities and nonprofit organizations. In the future I plan to attend law school. I hope to use all that I have learned throughout the course of my education, including my experience in Manresa, to serve as an advocate and a voice for others." Michael ’25
Strength to Persevere
"Manresa is truly an impactful program. It has provided me with strategies to ensure that I have time to focus on my school work and enjoy my life. My biggest take away from Manresa has been to never stop. Never stop moving forward. Never stop praying. Never stop reciting positive affirmations. Since I’ve kept that in mind, school has gone much more smoothly and it has been easier to cope as a first-generation college student. My plan for the future is to become a traveling nurse. I want to help people, the way that nurses have helped me throughout my life, and to explore the world and interact with different people. Since joining Manresa, I’ve learned that it’s OK to start over. I was a biology major before switching to nursing. I’ve never been happier with a decision in my life. My passion for nursing is strong and I’ve noticed a significant change in my attitude and happiness. I also want to let it be known that it’s OK to fall, dust yourself and start again. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, but we have the strength to persevere and push through." Tnes ’26
Say Yes
"Manresa has challenged me to grow personally and professionally. It has invited me to consider how I fit into my current communities, and how to translate my values into action as I prepare to build my life as a young professional. Over the course of my time in the program, I’ve learned that opportunities arise in ways that are not immediately clear, and sometimes are wholly unfathomable. Because of Manresa, I've come to recognize the importance of saying yes to opportunities, especially when the gratification is not instantaneous. The program has also opened some really incredible doors for me. I was invited to travel to Washington D.C., with a group of my peers to explore professional opportunities. My experience in Washington would not have been possible if it weren’t for Manresa. My biggest take away from the program is saying yes! This will prove essential in my life as I work to affect positive change in the lives of others through the practice of law." Henry ’26
FAQs
No! Manresa is completely free!
No! Manresa is completely free!
Though the activities vary for each Manresa year, most students can plan on about six events throughout the semester, varying from 1.5-4 hour time commitments each time. For more specific details, contact RJ Rapoza, co-director of Manresa.
Though the activities vary for each Manresa year, most students can plan on about six events throughout the semester, varying from 1.5-4 hour time commitments each time. For more specific details, contact RJ Rapoza, co-director of Manresa.
The Manresa years are based on your year at Le Moyne. You should submit an application for the year that corresponds with your current academic year.
The Manresa years are based on your year at Le Moyne. You should submit an application for the year that corresponds with your current academic year.
The Manresa mentors are faculty and administrators who facilitate the Manresa small groups. To date, over 75 members of the Le Moyne community have served as a Manresa mentor.
The Manresa mentors are faculty and administrators who facilitate the Manresa small groups. To date, over 75 members of the Le Moyne community have served as a Manresa mentor.
You will make lifelong friends, develop career skills, discover more about yourself, and get to know faculty on a personal level- and above all things: how to set the world on fire.”
Questions? Let's get in touch.
