The community of Benedictine College in Kansas is mourning the loss of Alex Lynch, a 2026 graduate remembered for his remarkable faith, friendship, and courage who died May 8 after a yearslong battle with cancer.
Alex’s virtuous character and impact across the community was reflected in a moving testimony on the college’s website written by his friend, fellow Benedictine alum, and journalist Jack Figge, who wrote that “even in the midst of battling cancer and frequent travels to Des Moines for treatment, he remained a joyful presence around campus, providing a witness to the Christian faith and what it means to suffer with Christ.”
Alex majored in finance, and received his degree in a special graduation ceremony May 7 at his home in Indianola, Iowa. Stephen Minnis, the college president, said in a message to the board of directors that several weeks earlier, Alex had left campus for tests but did not return after learning how quickly his cancer was spreading. Minnis said that upon learning that his family brought in home hospice care, the college community worked to arrange the graduation ceremony for him.
Alex was surrounded by his family and more than 30 Benedictine students — called Ravens — who drove up to be with him, Minnis said.
“You would have been proud to be a Raven on Thursday to witness all the love for one of their own,” Minnis said. “The entire event was beautiful and moving.”
Father Ryan Richardson, the college’s chaplain, celebrated the Baccalaureate Mass, wearing the same vestments and giving the same readings as the ones for the school’s May 15 Baccalaureate Mass, Minnis noted. Alex was then given a commencement ceremony by Professor Mike King, the chair of the business school. Minnis presented Alex’s degree to him.
“It was a beautiful ceremony, and I was honored to be a small part of it,” Minnis said.
The following evening, Alex’s father informed Minnis that Alex had died, about 24 hours after the ceremony and after receiving last rites.
Alex had been fighting cancer since he was 16 years old. Minnis described Alex as “a tremendous young man” who, upon arriving to Benedictine four years earlier, “had a tremendous impact on the college. He made a lot of friends, and his courage was inspiring to all of us.”
In his testimony, Figge shared that Alex’s witness helped him to understand the college’s vision to “Transform Culture in America.” Figge recounted how generous Alex was with his time — he never complained and always strove to put others first: He wanted to hear first how they were doing, help with their projects, and talk.
He reflected on how Alex built community and friendships and ultimately influenced the campus culture — but not through social media posting or being a “cool” kid, influential speaker, or heavily involved activities planner. Nor was it through holding important leadership positions or a membership in an honors society or student fellowship.
“Rather, through conversations with Alex and his joyful witness to suffering, Alex encouraged people to grow closer to Christ, to turn to Jesus in their own trials and tribulations,” Figge wrote. “In four years, Alex’s witness and friendship changed and inspired hearts, leading so many to Christ. Through Alex, Christ transformed hearts. There was nothing sexy, trendy, or novel about Alex’s approach. He simply loved Christ, loved people, and desired for others to know God.”
Alex’s joy, Figge said, was rooted in his faith.
“He loved Christ above all else and wanted others to know Jesus,” he wrote. “Even in his final week of hospice care, it was not about him. He asked visitors how they were doing, encouraged them to look to Christ, to pray for him, and to grow closer to Christ in the days ahead.”
Figge shared that when the news of Alex’s death began to spread, students at an off-campus party stopped to pray a decade of the Rosary. The hosts then had the attendees leave, advising them to go to Eucharistic adoration.
The campus chapel “was filled with students until late into the night, praying for Alex, sitting with the Lord,” Figge noted. “The next afternoon, 215 students gathered for Mass on a Saturday afternoon, in the midst of finals week, to pray for the repose of Alex’s soul.”
Students had been praying for Alex in the last week of his time in hospice care as well, Figge explained, recalling how student groups held rosaries for him that drew hundreds of students.
“When he died, students flocked to the Lord, coming together to pray for and remember our brother. They turned to Christ in their moment of grief,” Figge wrote. “Yet joy remained, as they recalled the tremendous impact Alex had in each of their lives. If that’s not transforming a culture, then I don’t know what is.”