Faces of DePauw

Part of the Family

Ainsley Boras ’25 is no stranger to the DePauw family. Visiting campus as a child with her parents Amy (Morgan) ’94 and Rob Boras ’92, she quickly noticed the strength of the relationships formed here. “Growing up, I saw how much my parents loved coming back and reconnecting with friends,” she recalls. “People in the DePauw community just care. They care about each other, and they care about the university.”

This communication major from Buffalo, New York, is now experiencing that dynamic for herself. Whether it’s with her sisters in Pi Phi or her colleagues in the Management Fellows program, Boras has forged deep connections throughout campus. “The friendships here are long-lasting,” she says. “I’ll have them the rest of my life.”

One unique source of friendship for Boras has been the women’s basketball team. “What I love most is how much of a true family we are,” she says. “I am so close to everyone on that team. We truly enjoy spending time together, even outside of practice. It’s evident on the court with our teamwork and our culture. It’s like having a family away from home.”

Boras points out that being a student-athlete at the collegiate level can be a challenge. “Most people don’t understand how much work truly goes into it. They don’t see the early morning weight-lifting sessions or the preseason conditioning – all this stuff we’re doing on top of academics.” But Boras knows she’s not alone. “The support of teammates and friends is incredibly helpful in navigating through tough times.”

Even off the court, Boras places a high value on the importance of teamwork. During a recent semester-long internship with the St. Louis Blues hockey organization, she had the opportunity to gain experience working in corporate partnerships, shadowing colleagues in different departments and exploring her own professional interests. “Having experienced sports as a player and a fan, it was awesome to be able to experience it from the business side. The same teamwork that you see from the athletes was apparent behind the scenes, as well. It’s a big part of why I want to go into sports.”

In the meantime, Boras is focused on the friendships she has with her teammates, savoring every little moment. “The things you don’t think about during a basketball season are the things you end up remembering far more than the wins and losses – bus rides, hotel rooms, hanging out, having fun. There’s so much more to it than just a game.”

Major: Communication
Hometown: Buffalo, New York
Campus Involvement: Women’s Basketball, Management Fellows, Pi Beta Phi, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Internships/Winter Terms: St. Louis Blues, PeacePlayers (Ireland)