Walsh University invites the campus and local community to a powerful evening of faith and resilience as part of its Education for Life Colloquium Series. On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Genelle Guzman-McMillan, the last survivor pulled from the wreckage of the World Trade Center on 9/11, will share her extraordinary story in the Barrette Business and Community Center beginning at 6:30 p.m.
During the devastating attacks on September 11, 2001, Guzman-McMillan was working in the North Tower of the World Trade Center when it collapsed. She survived an astonishing 27 hours trapped beneath the rubble, becoming the final person rescued alive from the ruins. Isolated and afraid, she endured the unthinkable – and in those darkest hours, experienced a powerful spiritual awakening that led her to rediscover faith, hope, and a renewed purpose. Although not religious before the collapse of the Twin Towers, she began praying and credits her survival to faith and the countless strangers who rescued her. Her story stands as a profound testament to resilience and renewal.
Her visit comes just days before the 24th anniversary of 9/11, a time marked by remembrance and reflection across the United States. Guzman-McMillan’s presence offers a living connection to these historic events and the invaluable lessons drawn from them, making her testimony especially meaningful for this moment. Her story not only honors the memory of 9/11 but also serves as an invitation to renew our collective commitment to dialogue, hope, and moral reflection.
Following the program, guests are invited to a book signing and reception beginning at approximately 7:45 p.m. A limited number of copies of her memoir, Angel in the Rubble, will be available for purchase.
This free event is made possible through the generous support of Christ the King Apostolic Church, Christ the Servant and Little Flower Catholic parishes, and the Wilkof and Nolan families, whose ongoing contributions help advance the mission of the Education for Life Colloquium Series. This interfaith series is dedicated to fostering meaningful conversations around core values such as faith, excellence, integrity, service, and community.
To learn more or register to attend, visit www.walsh.edu/angel.
