Rusty Welch Part 2

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz reconnects with Rusty Welch to share the deeply personal story behind his enduring love for Benedictine College. Rusty reflects on the loss of his parents and sister in a tragic 2018 car accident and how their memory remains intertwined with the college experience his entire family came to embrace. 

What began with Rusty leaving Louisiana to play football in Kansas quickly became a family adventure. His parents traveled 12 hours for games, cooked meals for teammates, joined the Ravens on trips overseas, and became part of the Benedictine community themselves. Through those experiences, Rusty learned to step outside his comfort zone, take chances, and view setbacks not as failures, but as opportunities to find another way forward.

Today, Rusty carries that legacy on through a scholarship established in his family’s memory, helping future Ravens pursue opportunities of their own. His story is a powerful reminder that Benedictine’s impact can extend far beyond one student — bringing families into the Raven community, shaping generations, and creating a connection that endures through both life’s greatest adventures and its deepest losses.