Legende McGrath, who recently completed his term as president of the Le Moyne College Student Government Association, is set to graduate in May, and will begin pursuing his master’s degree in July at Syracuse University.
As he focuses on tying up loose ends with clubs, closing off books, and working with Student Development, this student leader has taken some time to reflect on what led him to this point and what lies ahead.
From early on, his story hinted at the legacy he would one day leave. As part of a Native American ritual, Legende received his first name after his great-aunt had a vision through a dream, and told his grandmother she would have a grandson named Legende.
From his years at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, he points to his time with 4D Productions, a musical production company, where he said he served as the first student to hold the role of technical director and executive director after it was founded by John Nadler, a CNS teacher.
After six years spanning junior high through high school, McGrath said he found himself burned out, needing a brief break, before realizing he needed something else to keep him engaged.
When he landed at Le Moyne, that need led him to SGA, where he initially served as Chair of Academic Affairs. He later took on the interim VP position for Club Development during his sophomore year.
At that point, McGrath said clubs were not in poor condition, but post-COVID restructuring had left significant gaps between SGA and administration. He saw the need to start from the ground up, and with a background in doing exactly that, he got to work.
McGrath said he created a club handbook where none had existed, revamped president meetings to include guest speakers and leadership seminars, and experimented with new initiatives. That experimentation ultimately led to the creation of SGA’s club governance branch, which he said makes Le Moyne the only institution in New York State, and the only one in the Jesuit network, with a dedicated branch focused on maximizing club success.
As for his time this year as president, he described it as difficult, citing budget deficits, the shift to Division I athletics, and “everything in between.” He notes the college reached a number of firsts during that time, and says the most fulfilling part was guiding others to achieve those milestones. He considers it a fitting way to close out his time at Le Moyne.
Lia Rice, the next incoming president for Le Moyne’s SGA, said in a statement, “Legende never fails to bring a unique energy that empowers everyone to be the best version of themselves.” She also wrote about her experience with him, praising his leadership and describing how he guided her and acted as a mentor.
She concluded: “Legende’s leadership ways have further encouraged me to take on this role. He leads with confidence and authenticity that is truly unmatched. I feel confident in saying that when his time comes to physically leave Le Moyne, Legende will leave behind an enduring legacy characterized by resilience, optimism, and integrity.”
Following his time at Le Moyne, he will be attending Newhouse to earn a graduate degree in public relations, with an emphasis in social media.
He starts in July and finishes the following July, meaning he will earn his master’s degree at age 23. After that, his sights are set on government or high-level communications work, with goals of working as a communications director or public affairs specialist.
