HALL OF FAME SPOTLIGHT: Lauren Manekin Beille '02

Lauren Manekin Beille '02, a Lutherville, Maryland native, was a four-year standout for the women's lacrosse program from 1999-2002.  She ranks second in career goals with 220, while her 275 career points are good for fourth in program history.  Manekin was a two-time IWLCA All-American, earning First Team honors as a sophomore and Second Team accolades as a junior.  A three-time All-Region selection, Manekin was a three-time Capital Athletic Conference All-Conference honoree, earning First Team honors in 2001.

Beille and the Goucher Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will be inducted on Friday, October 20 at 6 pm at Hyman Forum at the Sanford J. Ungar Athenaeum.  We will be spotlighting each member as well as the 2013 equestrian team, this year's Team of Distinction, throughout the week.

How did you react when you learned that you had been selected to the Goucher Athletics Hall of Fame?

I have to be very honest in this answer: my reaction was that I did not deserve it. I may have earned it on paper, but I didn't feel like I deserved it. I have learned so much about myself and leadership since my time at Goucher that looking back at my experience, I felt like I should have been a stronger leader. While I put balls in the back on the net and yes, that was a big deal, I would have been more proud if I was a great player AND leader.

What are some of your top memories of your Goucher career, both on and off the field?

I literally stepped into who I am today at Goucher. In my speech I speak to not feeling worthy before Goucher and how my entire college experience transformed that for me. For the first time a guy liked me, I had real friends, and I contributed to something (on the field) in a meaningful way that was acknowledged. Goucher was the beginning of so much for me, especially my self confidence.

Who are people who had an influence on you during your time at Goucher?

Staff: Geoff Miller, Kara Carlin, LaJerne Cournish, (former President) Sanford Ungar

Peers: Muffie Bliss, Saborah Posner, Dean Ulman, Kate Howell, Qadir Stern, Jacob Hurwitz,…and so many more.

Other: My parents Donald & Brigitte, my sister Sophie who was our team Manager was HUGE, Qadir's mom, Aishah Stern.

What will it mean to be back on campus?

I can't wait to see friends that are joining us for the event, to meet Andrew (Wu), and reconnect with Geoff and Kara, who will be presenting me on Friday.

Being back, especially in the world of my athletic career, I think will feel powerful and maybe emotional. It's an honour so few have to be given this recognition from their schools and I am humbly excited to accept it.

What advice would you give to current Goucher student athletes?

I could speak to this for 3 hours. Here is a part of my speech that answers this question.

Today, my life's work is to do everything I can to create conditions in the world where everyone can feel like a Hall of Famer in their own right. They won't need luck or privilege. So, my unsolicited advice to the athletes still on fields, tracks, rings, and courts today is to stay humble. Remain deeply aware that the me in the game is only because of the we.

What are you doing now?

My work today in the Yukon, Canada is about helping people boldly step into having really hard conversations. Specifically, I am a facilitator of conversations around the housing crisis, the opioid crisis, and the deep human disconnect crisis.