Kiyara Dahane Profile
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM Scholarship
KIYARA DAHANE (BA ’26, BS ’26) doesn’t let naysayers tell her what to do. It’s a valuable lesson the pre-law student took from Sister Jean. In her time at Loyola, Dahane, a Toronto native, has not just pursued a double major in political science and criminal justice, she also has worked almost every campus job imaginable to help pay for her tuition and pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an attorney. Dahane has been an event coordinator, a resident adviser at San Francisco Hall, a liaison for the Student Rights, Responsibilities & Conflict Resolution team, and the assistant director of operations for the Ramblers women’s basketball team. She says the work has been extremely rewarding, particularly her role on the basketball team, which has taken her to cities across the country and given her the opportunity to forge lasting bonds with the players. “I feel like I’m a part of the team,” she says. “Just having that sisterhood and friendship has been really fun.”
Kiyara Dahane says a financial need–based $6,000 Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, Scholarship came at the “the perfect time,” supporting her lifelong dream of becoming an attorney. (Photo by Lukas Keapproth)
In 2025, while Dahane was busy planning events at the Damen Student Center, helping usher fans into their seats at Gentile Arena, and traveling across the country with the basketball team, she also juggled a demanding academic schedule. That September, when she found out she had been awarded a gift of $6,000 from the Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, Scholarship fund, it came as a welcome boost.
“Now that the financial part of senior year is covered, I’m more able to focus on my classes, my grades, and just being more involved. I’m able to settle down and just do school for once.”
Focusing more exclusively on her studies will help lay the foundation for Dahane’s plans to attend law school and pursue a career as a human rights or juvenile justice attorney.
From a young age, when her parents got divorced, she has wanted to follow in the footsteps of her mother’s attorney, who helped guide the family through a difficult time. “When I was 6, I sat in the chair in his office and thought, ‘This has to be me one day. I want to help people the way he helped my mother.’”
Sister Jean’s fighting spirit has also inspired her to forge ahead, even when faced with financial obstacles: “If I want to do something, I’ll do it now. I’ll figure it out,” she said. “The independence Sister Jean always had was very commendable.”
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM Scholarship
KIYARA DAHANE (BA ’26, BS ’26) doesn’t let naysayers tell her what to do. It’s a valuable lesson the pre-law student took from Sister Jean. In her time at Loyola, Dahane, a Toronto native, has not just pursued a double major in political science and criminal justice, she also has worked almost every campus job imaginable to help pay for her tuition and pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an attorney. Dahane has been an event coordinator, a resident adviser at San Francisco Hall, a liaison for the Student Rights, Responsibilities & Conflict Resolution team, and the assistant director of operations for the Ramblers women’s basketball team. She says the work has been extremely rewarding, particularly her role on the basketball team, which has taken her to cities across the country and given her the opportunity to forge lasting bonds with the players. “I feel like I’m a part of the team,” she says. “Just having that sisterhood and friendship has been really fun.”
In 2025, while Dahane was busy planning events at the Damen Student Center, helping usher fans into their seats at Gentile Arena, and traveling across the country with the basketball team, she also juggled a demanding academic schedule. That September, when she found out she had been awarded a gift of $6,000 from the Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, Scholarship fund, it came as a welcome boost.
“Now that the financial part of senior year is covered, I’m more able to focus on my classes, my grades, and just being more involved. I’m able to settle down and just do school for once.”
Focusing more exclusively on her studies will help lay the foundation for Dahane’s plans to attend law school and pursue a career as a human rights or juvenile justice attorney.
From a young age, when her parents got divorced, she has wanted to follow in the footsteps of her mother’s attorney, who helped guide the family through a difficult time. “When I was 6, I sat in the chair in his office and thought, ‘This has to be me one day. I want to help people the way he helped my mother.’”
Sister Jean’s fighting spirit has also inspired her to forge ahead, even when faced with financial obstacles: “If I want to do something, I’ll do it now. I’ll figure it out,” she said. “The independence Sister Jean always had was very commendable.”