Mayfield welcomed guest speaker Dydine Umunyana to campus. A survivor of the Rwandan Genocide, Umunyana shared her experience with students and faculty in a school-wide presentation. Umunyana was a victim of the genocide against the Tutsi people in Rwanda when she was a young child, and she has spent her adult life sharing her experience and spreading messages of love and perseverance. 

She discussed her book Embracing Survival, which details her journey towards survival. Umunyana also also detailed her goal to foster “a global community that values compassion, empathy, and understanding.” Her compassion and bravery inspired students throughout the auditorium, who are all taking her message to heart. The school’s ethnic studies class hosted a Q & A session after her presentation, asking her questions based on what they had learned. The whole class received copies of her autobiography, so that they can continue to learn about Umunyana’s story.