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NORTHERN TODAY 7 SPRING 2018 “I just needed positivity,” she said. “I just wanted people to know that my God has a reason for this and I trusted Him.” Though she lives with lingering side effects – lower energy, muscle and joint pain, a weak immune system – she is now in remission, with a positive prognosis and a faith even stronger. The experience led her to publish her book, “Cutting to the Core: Finding What Matters Most Through the Eyes of a Survivor in Life & Business,” in which she shares stories of faith, support and an unbeatable spirit. Raising Awareness about Leukemia Now, Thompson is passionate about raising awareness and funds in the fight against leukemia. To spread the word about the national “Lemons for Leukemia” challenge, she made a video and challenged NSU students, faculty and friends in the area to be tested and have their DNA registered in the national “Be the Match” registry. The “Lemons for Leukemia” challenge is similar to the ALS ice bucket challenge, but instead of raising dollars to combat a disease, it is collecting DNA from individuals who may just “be the match” for someone with a life-threatening illness. Thompson was the catalyst for the April 30 “Lemons for Leukemia” event on campus to add people to the national Be the Match registry. For her stem cell transplant, a stranger (who, too, was on a college campus halfway across the country when he decided to answer the call to participate in the Be the Match program) was literally a perfect 10 out of 10 match to her. So she knows first-hand the importance of people getting on the national donor database, because those closest to her – her family – were only a 5 of 10 match to her. Thompson said she was an appreciative person before she was sick, but now she is even more so. “Now I’m appreciative of the very small things.” That applies to parenting, too. “When you have to FaceTime your kids for 8 months, you just see things differently,” she said. Set Your Own Course Thompson, who lives in Brandon, has three children: son Taylor, 20; daughter Rachel, 16; and son Will, 15. She said even before she was sick, she was very much into teaching her children about legacy and character, not just because of her 21-year career in estate planning, but because, she believes, it is the only thing that if embodied can truly pass down and create a positive ripple effect for generations to come. “Fortunes can be built and lost, many times over. Who you are, what you believe, and what or who you stand for can monumentally change the future through what you share with those near to you. Money can’t do that,” she said, adding, “It’s not about your net worth, it’s about who you are and how you treat people.” That’s another truth she believes in: In your journey, it’s about the truth you believe and the people who walk alongside you that are most important. And from her rich, successful life experience, Thompson wanted to stress to students that graduation day is not the end – it is just the beginning. “You’ve got to take hold of your future,” she said. “There are a lot of hours in the day. You decide how to use them, and who you’re with – your circle of influence. Choose wisely. ” NORTHERN NEWS College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. Rochelle Nolte Dr. Rochelle Nolte is the NSU Distinguished Alumna for the College of Arts and Sciences. DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA Capt. Nolte has had a highly successful career with the U.S. Public Health Service, and she attributes that success to NSU and the top-notch professors who wouldn’t settle for anything less than her full potential. “My experiences with the Public Health Service have been beyond anything I ever could have dreamed up for myself. I never could have imagined such a great career,” she said. “I have Northern to thank for that.” Nolte said receiving the Distinguished Alumni award was very humbling. “The foundation for all I’ve achieved was laid for me at Northern by the faculty there,” she said. Capt. Nolte attended NSU from 1988 to 1992, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science. At Northern, she was active in 4-H, Cadet Club and ROTC – she was even named the ROTC Cadet of the Year for two consecutive years and was awarded the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal and National Defense Service Medal. Nolte said she chose NSU because a