Walsh University welcomed Genelle Guzman-McMillan, the last survivor rescued alive from the World Trade Center rubble after 27 hours on September 11, 2001, as a special guest during this Year of Faith. More than 600 faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members gathered in the Cecchini Center Auxiliary Gym to hear the remarkable testimony of Guzman-McMillan, whose transformational story of living a secular life to a Christ-centered life has inspired so many. Her presence on campus embodied the season’s themes of faith, hope, and resilience, offering the community a profound example of courage and hope.
Guzman-McMillan described her pre-9/11 life candidly as one driven by personal ambition. “It was all about me. It was never about anybody else,” she shared. Raised in a Christian home yet embracing a “wild child” path of glitz, glamour, and self-determination, she pursued the American dream as a dancer and actress after moving from Trinidad. Her testimony highlighted a pivotal shift: “In life, we have choices... But... God chooses the plan and purpose with your life."”
That fateful morning, she worked on the 64th floor of the North Tower amid growing uncertainty. “I was in the 64th floor... all I knew, I was scared of my life knowing if I was gonna make it out,” she recounted. With 15 colleagues debating whether to evacuate, the building collapsed, trapping her in darkness and debris. The dust and collapse left her immobilized, facing what seemed like certain death.
Alone for 27 hours, she turned to prayer with raw vulnerability. “I was shivering, I was going to die... and I called on Jesus Christ for my life,” she revealed. In that void, she made a lifelong commitment: “God... I promise you... I’m going to do it forever.” This act of surrender became her anchor, turning fear into a foundation of hope that sustained her until rescuers heard her voice.
In her desperation, a mysterious voice broke through, identifying himself as Paul. She recounted the exchange: “Hello, hello, hello, somebody up there, say yes... He said, Genelle, can you see the light? Can you see the light? I said, no, I can’t see it... There was a long way out.” Paul grasped her hand, urged her to have faith, and instructed her to raise her arm despite her pinned condition, giving her strength until rescuers arrived. No rescuer named Paul was ever found, leading her to believe he was an angel sent by God.
Rescuers extracted her, followed by multiple surgeries: “I couldn’t feel my leg... the fourth surgery saved my leg.” Post-recovery, she embraced service through her memoir Angel in the Rubble and global speaking. “We can only do everything with God. We can’t do it alone,” she told the Walsh audience.
Post-recovery, Guzman-McMillan embraced a life of service, sharing her story through her memoir Angel in the Rubble and speaking engagements worldwide. “We can only do everything with God. We can’t do it alone,” she emphasized to the Walsh audience. Her campus visit, part of the Education for Life Colloquium Series, affirmed Walsh’s commitment to fostering faith-driven resilience amid life’s uncertainties.
This event was made possible by Christ the King Apostolic Church, Christ the Servant and Little Flower Catholic parishes, and the Education for Life Colloquium, with support from the Wilkof and Nolan families.
