Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN - Face to Face

Face to Face: 2011

dmiller2 — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:40:44 +0000

Meet a communications major who traveled to London and Scotland with the Belles soccer team; a music professor who challenges students to translate the power in singing to other areas of their lives; and an alumna who has put her social work degree to good use in her work with children's protective services and now, immigration issues.

Through these brief sketches of Saint Mary's students, faculty, and alumnae, learn what it's like to be a part of the Saint Mary's College community.

Face to Face Stories

2011

Cheer and Volunteer

ccox — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:22:40 +0000

To senior Katelyn Dapper, or Katie as she is better known, Saint Mary’s is synonymous with family. Her mother and two aunts are alumnae and her sister, Sarah, is a first-year student at the college. But for Katie, Saint Mary’s means family in more ways than one.

“I enjoy a smile or hello from all students as I walk around the campus,” she says. “I could not have anticipated the difference it makes to know that I am a part of a family here at Saint Mary’s. My second family is a support system for every aspect of life on-campus.”

Katie, a business administration and communication studies double major from Indianapolis, recognizes the community’s support as a major factor in her growth over the past three years.

“I have gained a great deal of independence and confidence through many experiences and challenges at Saint Mary’s. I have learned to take on any task and overcome difficulties that come my way,” she explains.

Katie, bottom left, and her sister, Sarah,
bottom right, help younger students
with cheerleading.
There is no doubt that Katie has taken on her fair share of tasks while at Saint Mary’s. Katie serves as the secretary and sergeant at arms of the campus Toastmasters Club, a national organization that develops skill in verbal and written communication. She is also the director of student involvement for the Saint Mary’s Make-A-Wish Foundation, coordinating events and fundraisers.

But Katie cites her volunteer work at South Bend’s Center for the Homeless as her most meaningful campus involvement. She, along with a fellow classmate, created and taught a class for the children at the Center during the spring 2010 semester.

“We had originally planned to volunteer at previously organized events but the head coordinator could no longer attend,” Katie explains. “We took over the role as leaders so that the kids would still have something fun to look forward to on Wednesday nights. I brought supplies and created an activity for each meeting throughout the semester.”

Outside of Saint Mary’s campus, Katie continues her involvement in the community. She is a cheerleading coach at a grade school in Indianapolis and runs a camp in the summers to help the girls prepare for the upcoming season.

This year, Katie was chosen as one of 33 princesses for the
Indianapolis 500 race.
This year, Katie was chosen as an Indianapolis 500 Festival Princess, one of only 33 selected from an applicant pool of nearly 300 young women. The selection was based on communication skills, poise, academic performance, and community and volunteer engagement. As a princess, Katie was highly involved in the 500-mile race, festival events, and statewide outreach programs.

Katie even finds time to further her career aspirations. This summer, she worked as the marketing intern for USA Gymnastics in Indianapolis.

“I assisted the marketing department in planning events, ticket sales, relationships with member clubs, sponsors, and partners, publications, and worked on-site at competitions,” Katie says. She even had the opportunity to travel to the Cover Girl Classic in Chicago and to the Visa Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Katie visited the Visa (gymnastics) Championships in
Minnesota this summer as part of an internship.
After graduating from Saint Mary’s, Katie knows where she will go next. “I plan to work in the marketing department of a successful corporation,” she says. “I hope to travel the world and continue to learn every day!”

Though success will surely come to Katie as she moves into the future, she will always recognize the support system of her Saint Mary’s family. “I love my amazing friends and the support from the entire community. My success means something to each of these people and their compassion exceeds my expectations.”

—Alexandra Davin ’12

A Vocation Discovered

ccox — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:14:39 +0000

Three years ago, Alicia Carroll ’12 started her undergraduate education with the intention of preparing herself for a career as a family practitioner. The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native enrolled in a science-focused schedule, weighing heavily in biology and chemistry. However, when Alicia signed up for an introductory sociology course to fulfill a general education requirement, her career path took an unexpected turn.

The course, titled Social Problems (SOC 203), focused on modern social issues such as the cycle of poverty and social stratification. The biology major was so stirred by the topics discussed in the class that she decided to pursue a world of medicine far different from the sanitized walls of a family practice. Inspired by the justice-driven facet of sociology, Alicia has since declared a sociology minor and has dedicated herself to a career in global health and justice.

“As a liberal arts college, Saint Mary’s requires that we take many courses outside of our majors,” she said. “I am fortunate that I have taken such courses because it is within these classes that I have been challenged to truly think about what it is I am called to do.”

With a new career path in place, Alicia took advantage of programs that allowed her to further engage her interest in global health. She spent the summer of 2010 testing village diseases in Uganda. Alicia credits her time in the impoverished village as the inspiration for her vocation to global health.

“The overwhelming feeling of gratefulness from that summer is at the center of all my decisions,” she said. “I learned from volunteering that I wanted my future to involve working to eliminate the global issue of poverty.”

This summer, the Saint Mary’s Department of Biology and alumna Mary Burke ’85 sponsored Alicia in traveling to Nicaragua to conduct research in an island village named Little Corn. She and three other Saint Mary’s biology majors conducted sanitation tests on the village’s wells and other water sources.

Alicia’s specific role in the longitudinal study was to look for E. coli, salmonella, and other coliforms in order to classify the water as potable or contaminated. Since returning to campus this fall, Alicia has been analyzing the results of her research and will present her findings and proposed solutions for her senior comprehensive project.

Alicia has also continued to expand her knowledge of global health and justice in the classrooms of Saint Mary’s. She is currently enrolled in Catholic Social Thought and Medical Sociology and says the classes have further solidified her calling to fight for equality in health care across the world.

“I can credit my stance on these issues to Saint Mary’s,” she said. “The College has given me the education, the opportunities, and the passion to pursue this mission not only in my classes, but also in my career and my lifestyle.

“Being on such a global and socially conscious campus like Saint Mary’s has made me realize my major goes deeper than just biology and medicine. I can use my education to bring about social and global change, and that’s a very empowering thing.”

—Bridget Meade ’12

A School Leader, Present and Future

ccox — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:41:59 +0000

Emily Skirtich ’12 is chief of staff for student government and hopes to teach someday…

A School Leader, Present and Future

ccox — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:36:05 +0000

Emily Skirtich ’12 has earned the title as a leader among Belles. She has been involved with the Student Government Association (SGA) since her first year when she became secretary, and, incidentally, the youngest member on the board. She currently serves as chief of staff for SGA.

No matter where Emily finds herself—working in the SGA office or sitting in a classroom—she says Saint Mary’s has helped her develop her leadership skills and grow as a young woman.

“Saint Mary’s is the constant companion to the evolving young woman,” Emily says. “The College supports, advocates, and embraces its students throughout their four years. Students learn about the world and about themselves.”

She says the close-knit Saint Mary’s community, which Emily refers to as a sisterhood, helped to shape her role as a leader.

“It genuinely is one of the most incredible places in the world. You can pass a College vice president or director and they’ll know you by name,” Emily says. “The inclusive atmosphere and ability to talk to any member of the faculty or administration in passing is incredible. Saint Mary’s should market that more.”

Emily says working behind the scenes at the College has helped her see how students can make a difference at a school from the inside. It’s got her thinking about a career as a school administrator, maybe as a principal in a parochial school.

“I feel a strong vocation to work in parochial schools,” Emily says. “It goes back to the Holy Cross tradition on which Saint Mary’s was founded: you can’t educate the mind without educating the heart. I believe this to be true and it plays an integral part in what I want to do. I think that’s what sets Saint Mary’s apart.”

Before working as a school administrator, though, this English literature major says she feels called to teach. This summer Emily served as a tutor for the Upward Bound College Preparatory Program at the University of Notre Dame. The program aids high school students from low-income families and/or will be first-generation college students, helping them to graduate from high school and fulfill their potential.

“I know that when I was in the classroom and watching them learn, it was the most rewarding thing,” Emily recalls.

She has applied to the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Program at Notre Dame as well as the Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education Program (PACE) at the University of Portland to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher and school administrator.

—Madeline Miles ’13

Having a Ball

ccox — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:50:08 +0000

Ashley Morfin ’13 not only plays soccer, it's been her summer job...

Having a Ball

ccox — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:16:11 +0000

Ashley Morfin '13 at her paid summer
internship with the International
Federation of Association Football (FIFA)
in New York City.

You could say Ashley Morfin ’13 has won the World Cup of paid internships. For the past three summers, she has worked for the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in New York City.

A business administration major and Belles soccer player, Ashley spent her first summer in FIFA’s marketing department. “I was in charge of setting up the website and adding advertisements for game tickets and shopping online,” she says.

The second summer was even more incredible. “I worked in accounting during the World Cup,” she says. “I helped log payments and helped make the match scripts for the announcers of the game in English and Spanish.”

Ashley at the 2009 Gold Cup championship game, United
States versus Mexico, in Newark, New Jersey.

And this summer, Ashley worked with the competition division of the organization. “During the Gold Cup, I was in charge of transportation for the teams, coaches, and staff,” she says.

As with any job, there are perks. In this case, they’re fantastic. Ashley and the other FIFA interns get tickets to games in New York and New Jersey, including Gold Cup games. These were perfect benefits for Ashley, a soccer fan who hopes to work with FIFA for her career. During summer, she also played soccer with the New York Athletics Club that travels around New York to play in semi-pro tournaments.

Back at Saint Mary’s, Ashley, a native of Crown Point, Indiana, is making the most of her college days. Within her business administration major, she is concentrating in finance and accounting. Her minor is mathematics.
Ashley, left, plays forward for the Belles soccer team.

Ashley participates in volunteer programs such as Habitat for Humanity and working at a local nursing home. To help finance her education, she works in the business office in Le Mans Hall and as a desk worker at Angela Athletic Facility. She also receives an economics scholarship and a Saint Mary’s grant.

On the soccer field, she is a starting forward and has played in almost every game in her first two years. “Playing soccer helped me make friends fast,” she says. “Also, it has forced me to make good study habits and organizational skills. The coaches know academics come first, and they are always checking up on the team to make sure everyone is on track with their grades.”

She calls Saint Mary’s her second home. “I have been visiting Saint Mary’s since my older sister, Shannon, came here in 2004,” she says. “I noticed my sister really grew as a person and I could only pinpoint this change to one thing—Saint Mary’s. I knew this is what I wanted out of a college: to be challenged, learn more about myself, and be motivated by my peers and professors. The girls here are extremely nice, personable, intelligent, and truly genuine.”

She enjoys the small, all-women’s campus. “The class sizes are not too big, so I feel comfortable asking questions and participating in class discussions,” she says. “Everyone takes their academics very seriously, and I like being in an atmosphere with highly motivated students who are determined to learn and succeed at whatever they do. It is amazing to see how confident every girl is here.

The professors really want to see you succeed, and they are always willing to help. I have been pushed to my limits, and I have surprised myself as to how much I can achieve. I could not imagine a better fit.”

An Ear to Listen, A Hand to Hold

ccox — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:47:57 +0000

Tina Weigle ’12 plans for a life in nursing...

An Ear to Listen, A Hand to Hold: Tina Weigle ’12 Plans for a Life in Nursing

ccox — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:00:58 +0000

For Tina Weigle ’12, attending a college that focuses exclusively on women’s education was critical. So when her former college decided to admit men after her first year, she chose to transfer to Saint Mary’s. She feels great about her decision.

Tina works at the Cushwa-Leighton
Library on campus.

“Saint Mary’s is a small college with a big heart,” says Tina, a nursing major from South Bend, Indiana. “I am so glad that, with so many women’s colleges either closing down or going co-ed, Saint Mary’s has held on to something that makes it special.

“I wanted to keep the all-women experience and the small, intimate classes,” she adds. “I wanted professors that make time for you and faculty that actually care about your success. I also knew that the nursing program was an exceptional program and I wanted the best education that I could get.”

Saint Mary’s rigorous and highly respected nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the Indiana State Board of Nursing. Classes are taught by expert faculty, never teaching assistants, and students say the close mentoring relationships are invaluable for education and personal growth. “I appreciate the hard work that professors undertake in order to help as many students as they can,” Tina says. “I love that I am not just a number in a classroom—I am a person that matters.”

Tina sits by a statue of an angel and
child near Holy Cross Hall. She finds the
statue significant because she hopes
to work as a pediatric nurse someday.

Outside the classroom, Tina participates in community activities such as the Read to a Child program at a local elementary school. “The most meaningful activity I was a part of was volunteering at the YWCA for my Faith in Action class,” she says. “I was able to work with women who were building new lives for themselves and their children. They came to the YWCA for different reasons—some were in abusive relationships, some were recovering addicts, and some were simply victims of unfortunate events. However, they all were trying their hardest to make things right.”

She also works with children at the Granger (Indiana) Community Church. “I was drawn to the Children's Ministry area, especially the four- and five-year-old classroom,” she says. “I spend time with anywhere from 15 to 50 little children, playing with them, talking to them, and teaching them about God. Their personalities are so expressive and their thoughts so unique. I love being able to teach them that they are special, important, and loved by God, their friends and their family. I often leave there having learned something about life.”

In keeping with her love for children, Tina hopes to work as a pediatric nurse after graduation. “I have considered going into pediatric oncology—those children have such strength and are wise beyond their years,” she says. “If I could help and comfort them during their battle against cancer then I could finally find meaning in my life.

“I would also love to do missionary work that allows me to use my nursing skills to aid those who are in need of medical care,” she adds. “It might not even always mean a medical intervention. Perhaps sometimes it would be more important for me to lend an ear to listen or a hand to hold.”

Culture Quest: Jean Osberger '13 Seeks Deep Understanding of Western Civlization and Beyond

ccox — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:41:02 +0000

Jean Osberger ’13 wants to see things from all sides, wants the richness of varied experiences, wants to know many types of people. And Saint Mary’s is just one step in this quest for understanding she knows will last her entire life.

“My classes at Saint Mary’s motivate me to truly learn the material and inquire further than the syllabus necessitates,” she says. “Focusing on the grade does not motivate me. Learning is not a means to an end, but a process that should never end."

This mindset made Jean a perfect fit for Saint Mary’s unique and rigorous humanistic studies program. Weaving together history, literature, theology, philosophy, and art, it focuses on understanding western culture. What separates it from traditional humanities programs is the emphasis on women and Christianity’s role in forming western civilization. Students are expected to take an active part in discussion and write frequently, as well.

Jean, a resident of South Bend, Indiana, decided on her major after taking an introductory class. “I really wanted a major that focused on a subject through several different points of view because I believe that is the closest way to come to an unbiased understanding,” she explains. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned at Saint Mary’s it’s to be skeptical of everything, because our history tends to be written by those in power and doesn’t tell all sides of the story.”

Naturally, the College activities Jean has enjoyed most are those that have opened her mind and exposed her to new experiences and ideas. “My most meaningful experience has been my semester abroad in Seville, Spain,” she says. “I loved the cultural immersion of living with a Spanish family and speaking Spanish every day. I have never been more out of my comfort zone nor experienced anything so unique and exciting.”

Jean Osberger '13 visited the Blue
Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, during her
study abroad in Seville, Spain.

Jean also is a perfect fit for the Student Diversity Board. Last year, she helped organize events that promoted female leadership and feminism such as Women’s Appreciation Week. “I believe if we promote diversity, the student body will embrace it more fully, paving the way for a more diverse campus in the future,” she says. “Diversity is important because it helps people become more aware the ‘whole picture,’ and therefore base their perception on a fairer scale. Diversity helps ground us in reality and shapes our educational experience in a way that forces us to be open-minded.”

Her openness to new experiences led to her choice of minors in Spanish and dance. “Spanish integrates perfectly into my humanistic studies major because what better way to study a culture than through the native language?” she says.

“I love to look at culture through its dance and think it expresses things that are impossible to verbalize,” she says. “In Spain, I took flamenco and it was a fantastic experience! It’s nice to express yourself in a way that is emotionally raw instead of being bogged down by words.”

Jean is considering law school after graduation. She plans on entering the workforce immediately after college, and hopes to use Spanish in any career she chooses.

Whatever she plans to do, she knows Saint Mary’s has prepared her. “The professors really care about the students, and the women who attend Saint Mary’s are confident, independent intellectuals,” she says. “I have grown into an independent person and made lifelong friendships in my time at Saint Mary’s.”

Sharing Opportunities: Ciara Ward ’13 Hopes to Improve Lives as a Social Worker

ccox — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:51:51 +0000

Ciara Ward ’13 of South Bend, Indiana, knew she’d receive a great education from Saint Mary’s College. But she couldn’t have predicted the personal growth she’s experienced in just two years.

Ciara Ward '13

“When I first came here, I was extremely shy and did not like the way I spoke. I stumbled over my words, especially when I was nervous,” says Ciara, a social work major. “Now I have learned to be more confident in my speaking and I have overcome some of my timidity. I’m more open and share my opinions.

“Saint Mary’s is the perfect place for a girl to grow into a woman. You not only get the chance to learn, but you also get life experience as well.”

For Ciara, that life experience includes participating in extra-curricular activities such as Read-to-a-Child and the College Academy of Tutoring (CAT). “The CAT program was the most meaningful because I got to work with many different types of students and it seems as if I was making a difference to most of them,” she says.

Many faculty members at Saint Mary’s have made a difference in Ciara’s collegiate career, especially Diane Fox, director of the Office for Student Success. The office works with students to help them develop confidence, motivation, and academic skills and strategies. “Whenever I need help with anything, Diane is the one I go to,” Ciara says. “She always goes the extra mile for me.”

Like more than 90 percent of all Saint Mary’s students, Ciara receives financial aid. In addition to receiving three scholarships, Ciara has also helped finance her education by working in the College library since her first year.

Ciara has worked at the Cushwa-Leighton Library since her
first year at Saint Mary's College.

Grateful for her own opportunities to grow, Ciara wants to help others find theirs.

“I want to be a social worker because I want to make a difference in people's lives,” she says. “I want to give them opportunities that they did not think were possible. What’s most appealing about being a social worker is the goal of striving for social justice and having the ability to empower people. It’s amazing to me.”

In addition to pursuing a degree with the College’s accredited social work program, Ciara will complete a minor in gerontology and would like to work with senior citizens in the future. “They have the most positive spirit any person can ask for,” she says. “I also love hearing when older adults talk about and tell stories of their lives; it is always so interesting.”

She is certain her experiences at Saint Mary’s are preparing her for success outside school. “The people at Saint Mary’s are open-minded and kind,” she says. “Saint Mary’s has opened a lot doors for me and has given me the chance to be more open and welcoming to new situations and people. I have met people who have truly changed my life for the better and I know once I leave Saint Mary’s, I will have the opportunity to do the same for many others.”

Elemental Change: Angela Willson ’12 Transformed by Chemistry Studies, Spiritual Discovery

ccox — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:48:41 +0000

Just as atoms and molecules bind to form more significant matter, Angela Willson’s experiences at Saint Mary’s College have changed her essential nature, shaping her life into something more substantial than she’d ever expected.

Angela works in a nanotechnology lab at the University of
Notre Dame as part of the a summer fellowship.

“Saint Mary’s is the place where I have found myself,” said Angela ‘12, a chemistry major from Portage, Michigan. “If you put your heart into Saint Mary’s, she gives back. Saint Mary’s has made me a confident woman who is not afraid to step into the world.”

This confidence helped Angela land a prestigious research fellowship in a nanotechnology laboratory at the University of Notre Dame this summer. The Nanoelectronics Undergraduate Research Fellowship (NURF) pairs 32 students from all over the world with science professors. Saint Mary’s students Suong Do ’12 and Diana Vega Pantoja ’13 also participate in the program.

Angela shows the gold medium that she's researching.

For her fellowship, Angela is working with Notre Dame chemistry Professor Paul Bohn on gold nanowires, filaments visible only through a microscope. The ultimate goal of the research is to use the wire, which is attached to a porous membrane, to detect biomolecules such as lipids and cholesterol. But the painstaking research has helped Angela understand that end results can be years in the making.

“Nanotechnology is kind of a weird world,” she said. “It isn’t like other chemistry where there may be an immediate color change. But it’s still fascinating to see what the life of academic research is like firsthand.”

Angela, third from left, was baptized into the Catholic faith
last year along with Randi Beem '11, second from left.
Also shown are their sponsors Erin Valencia '11, far left, and
Christine Hendershot '12, far right.

As passionate as she is about chemistry, Angela doesn’t spend all of her time in the lab. She has participated in Women’s Choir every year, studied abroad in Spain, held office in the Saint Mary’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, served as president for the service organization Rotaract, and will be co-president of the Saint Mary’s Affiliation of the American Chemical Society during her senior year.

One of her most meaningful experiences at Saint Mary’s was unexpected. She entered College with no religious affiliation, but found her soul responding to the spiritual atmosphere and was eventually baptized. “It was a long process, but very rewarding,” she said. “Guided by Judy Fean, the director of Campus Ministry, three other students and I experienced a finding or renewal of our faith together. I cannot imagine a better place than Saint Mary’s to have this experience of faith and community.”

Angela dances with a local band in Morocco during a trip
she took while studying abroad in Spain.

She treasures that community. “I talk to friends from home about our respective schools, and no one has the same quality of friendships like what I have built at Saint Mary’s,” she said. “Coming in as an only child, I have now left with lifelong friends who I truly consider the sisters I never had. At Saint Mary’s we challenge each other to do our best without competing with each other. By working together, we can all learn the material and become better women because of it.”

She’s certain the knowledge and talents she’s developed at Saint Mary’s will serve her well in the future. “I don’t know what I want to do after graduation, but I know that once I figure it out, I can make it happen,” she said. “My professors have helped me see all of the options, including continuing my education at graduate school, which is something I never even considered before I began college. The sky is the limit.”

Neonatal Nurturing: Teresa Dudding '11 Cares for the Tiniest Lives

ccox — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:13:00 +0000

On a hospital floor where the tiniest lives depend on her, nurse Teresa Dudding ’11 looks and listens for details as subtle and critical as the breath of a newborn.

Less than a month after she graduated with a nursing degree from Saint Mary’s College, Teresa started her career as a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It’s a floor she’s familiar with after working there as a student in the summer and during the school year.

Her new job fulfills a calling she’s felt most of her life. “I have known that I wanted to be a nurse since I was in fourth grade and spoke to my dad, a clinical pharmacist, about how much I loved babysitting and taking care of infants,” she said. “He mentioned how neonatal nurses care for babies daily and that this profession might interest me in the future. I knew at that moment that nursing was my calling.”

Teresa receives her diploma from Saint Mary's College
President Carol Ann Mooney on May 21, 2011.

She also knew Saint Mary’s would be the right choice for her education. The College’s renowned and accredited nursing program impressed Teresa, a native of St. Joseph, Michigan. The excellent experiences of her alumnae family members—a sister and two cousins—also helped convince her.

Teresa also received help to finance her education with two scholarships from the College, the Katherine M. McAnaney Memorial Scholarship and the Madeleva Scholarship, as well as two outside awards.

Teresa visited Athens during the summer of 2010.

She made the most of her Saint Mary’s year through involvement with the Saint Mary’s College Student Nurses’ Association and volunteering for the South Bend Center for the Homeless. As part of the rigorous nursing program and in fulfillment of a pediatrics nursing class, she helped care for a medically fragile four-year-old child through the Saint Mary’s College pediatric respite program.

“The education I received at Saint Mary’s College changed my life,” Teresa said. “The College gave me the tools I need to be successful as a neonatal intensive care nurse and allowed me to grow as an individual. I will never forget the relationships I made at the College or the individuals who assisted me in reaching my academic and individual goals.” Those goals may include Teresa working towards a degree as a neonatal nurse practitioner in the future.

No matter what, she’s ready to meet the challenges that nursing undoubtedly will bring. In fact, she’s seeking those challenges. “Saint Mary’s women don’t sit back and wait for opportunities to come to them; rather they reach out and find ways in which they can use their unique talents to serve God and others,” she said.

And as she cares for some of the most delicate patients in the hospital, Teresa is doing exactly that.

A Splendid Success: Chelsea Young ’13 Gained Lifelong Confidence, Curiosity, and Culture in Rome

ccox — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:59:43 +0000

The poet Lord Byron called Rome “city of the soul.” Chelsea Young ’13 understands.

“I could write a book about why I love Rome,” she said. “The food, the sights, the people, and the history are the obvious answers. But what I value most from my experience abroad is the person it made me. I became more confident, adventurous, and curious. I matured emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. I was astounded by the progress I made in three months. It was the best experience of my life.”

Chelsea Young, left, and Theresa Nucciarone '13 in Rome.

Chelsea isn’t alone in her enthusiasm. Ask any Saint Mary’s student about her study abroad and she’ll talk (and talk and talk) about personal transformation and growth, whether she studied in Ireland, France, India, South Korea, or any of the other 18 locations. The prestigious Rome program is the College’s oldest and started in 1970. Students of the program live in a four-star hotel in the heart of old Rome.

For Chelsea, a studio arts major from South Bend, Indiana, Rome was the city of her soul. “From the moment I decided upon going to Saint Mary's, I knew I would be going to Rome,” she said. And persuasive forces were at work, too: “My Italian professor, Dr. Peter Checca, would speak so highly of Rome that I felt it would be a tragedy if I didn't go. Dr. Checca would always say in class, ‘When you go to Rome,’ not ‘if.’ Not going to Rome was never an option in my mind.”

From left: Tayler Aker '13, Chelsea, Anna Vaughn '13,
Lucy Blanco '13, and Heidi Etzel '13 in Athens.

Professor Checca was right. “By the end of the program I felt like an Italian, I knew the city, I knew the culture, and I could speak Italian more confidently,” Chelsea said. “I still miss Rome every single day and plan on making my way back there sometime soon!”

In the meantime Chelsea keeps busy on campus. In addition to a job in the admissions office and other activities, she represents her class on the Alumnae Board of Directors. “I interviewed with about 12 members of the Board—it was intense!— and they chose me. I’m really excited about it. The alums are awesome and I look forward to getting to know them and learn from them.”

Chelsea visited Paris during her
study abroad in Rome.

As passionate as Chelsea is about Saint Mary’s now, she wasn’t sold on the College until she set foot on campus. “I could just see myself here rather than all the larger schools I had applied to,” she said. “I felt like I was being accepted into one big family.”

And Saint Mary’s made it affordable for her to attend. “Plain and simple, I would not be here if it were not for the generous gifts of donors and Saint Mary's,” she said. “Every year Saint Mary's has taken into account my family's financial situation and has tailored a financial plan to meet our needs.”

Chelsea with one of her silkscreen art projects.

Her favorite part of the College is her “second family” of friends, coworkers, and professors. “Saint Mary's women are always supporting one another and it's a great environment to do great things,” she said. “The drive to excel is contagious, and we're all pushing each other to strive for more. Saint Mary's is where you can achieve things you never knew you could and feel like you could go out into the world upon graduation and do something incredible.”

For her own part, Chelsea is planning on attending law school: “With my Saint Mary's background I am entirely confident that I will succeed splendidly.”

In Italian that’s un successo splendente, a splendid success.

Courtside Commitment: Sara Crandall ’11 Managed Notre Dame Basketball

ccox — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:12:15 +0000

For as long as she can remember, Sara Crandall ’11 has loved sports. So much that she hoped to play at the Division I level once she reached college. However, after a career-ending injury during her senior year of high school, the Michigan native thought her dream of being a part of a college basketball program was over. But when Sara started her first year at Saint Mary’s College, she realized she wasn’t ready give up her love of the game.

“Playing sports all my life, I have always been part of a team,” she said. “So when I heard about the student manager program on my tour of Saint Mary’s, I was very interested.”

The University of Notre Dame Student Manager Organization is a scholarship program through the Notre Dame Athletic Department that commissions Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s students to serve as managers for the University’s NCAA Division I teams, ranging from the Fighting Irish football team to the swim team.

Sara applied to the program as a freshman and was selected among 200 other first year students. Before graduating in May, Sara was one of just 21 senior student managers and served as a primary manager for the Notre Dame men’s basketball team.

Whether it was organizing practice equipment or planning recruiting events, Sara was responsible for a number of behind-the-scenes projects for Notre Dame athletics.

“No two days are the same as a student manager,” Sara said. “There is always something different to do.”

This year, Sara’s role as a student manager for the men’s basketball team was particularly exciting. The team ended the season with a 27-7 record and was selected to play in the NCAA tournament. The team also won the Old Spice Thanksgiving Tournament in the fall and finished second in the Big East Conference standings.

“Working with a winning team is definitely more exciting and fun,” Sara said. “All the long-hour days go faster and don’t seem as bad because we were doing well.”

Sara, a business administration and economics major, said the challenge of organizing a variety of managerial tasks and dedicating more than 40 hours a week to her job has prepared her for her future career in sports management. Besides earning a scholarship for her work and forming networking connections, Sara said her participation in the student manager organization has given her priceless memories.

“The experiences I have had being a manager are experiences people dream about having,” Sara said. “Such as painting the helmets gold every week, working on the sidelines for the football and basketball games, being in the team locker rooms, and being seen on many networks while working. It’s a very unique job.”

Sara also formed strong friendships with her fellow student managers. “You form a close relationship with these people because you spend so much time together and are all going through similar experiences,” she said. “I know the friendships I made are ones I will have for the rest of my life.”

Sara acknowledged the importance of the bond between Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame when expressing her gratitude for being able to participate in the student manager program.

“I think the relationship between Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame is very important because both schools offer opportunities to students that the other school does not,” Sara said. “It allows for students to get involved in even more extracurricular activities.”

— Bridget Meade ‘12

Devoted to Saint Mary’s: Olivia Brach ’12 Loves Sacred Aspects of the College

ccox — Thu, 26 May 2011 18:26:37 +0000

If you ask Olivia Brach ’12 to write about what she loves about Saint Mary’s, you’ll get a poetic answer.

Olivia in the Le Mans Hall chapel.

"I love that I can go to daily Mass with the Sisters at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto. I love the drive down the Avenue. No matter what the season, the Avenue always takes my breath away,” she writes.

“I love that there is a different crucifix in every classroom. I love that my professors know my name, and I love that I can drop by their office any day for help or just to chat. I love the high ceilings in Holy Cross Hall and the chapel in Le Mans Hall. I love the Ireland study abroad program. I love the cushioned seats in the dining hall, and the fact that I know most of the dining hall workers.”

And she loves the close-knit community of the College. “At Saint Mary's, one cannot just blend into the crowd. One cannot just sneak by through the four years here. Your professors are going to reach out and get to know you. The students here are all very close. There is a good chance that, though I haven't met you, I know who you are,” she said.

Olivia, an elementary education major from Granger, Indiana, relishes the hard work and challenges that characterize the Saint Mary’s experience.

An ardent writer, she is a reporter for The Observer, the student newspaper for the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s, and a contributor to the most recent issue of Bellezine, Saint Mary’s student-published magazine.

Through the Office for Civic and Social Engagement’s Liaison Program, Olivia volunteers with Dismas House of South Bend, a home for former prison inmates. Her role is to communicate with Dismas House to find out how Saint Mary's can help. “That could be anything from donating old bed sheets and canned food to helping clean the house,” she said. Last semester, she and a group of other students helped paint the second floor of the house. “It was a ton of fun, and a great way to reach out to the South Bend community,” she said.

Olivia in the Irish countryside.

During her sophomore year, Olivia studied abroad in Maynooth, Ireland. “I learned how to be independent and was able to travel all around Europe,” she said. “I lived on campus with Irish students and had classes with Irish students as well. I made tons of Irish friends and even got to visit their homes and hometowns! I have learned to enjoy the challenges in my life with a smile and a good sense of humor—this is the Irish way.”

Olivia, right, and her friend, Megan
Dempsey '12, admire the Cliffs of Moher
in County Clare, Ireland.

Olivia is putting her future into God’s hands. “I know He has called me to be an elementary school teacher, so that is the profession I will pursue,” she said. “I will hopefully be teaching students, but as to where, I am not certain. It is a difficult job but I am up for the challenge. I love, love, looooove working with children, and I love being in the classroom.”

Even if that classroom is in another country: “I have also been praying about/tossing around the idea of doing a mission trip to another country,” she said, citing Uganda specifically. “But who knows! Life is full of surprises!”

Being Social: JoLynn Williams ’12 Savors Music and Media

ccox — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:37:54 +0000

At the age of 14, JoLynn Willliams ’12 of Lake Charles, Illinois, began her rise to unofficial rank of social media connoisseur. Throughout the years, JoLynn studied various social media, ranking the pros and cons of each, the strength of the communication allowed, and how people use social media.

JoLynn Williams '12, far left, works with other students at
the Saint Mary's television station, SMC-TV.

During the College’s Bold Beauty Conference on April 28, 2011, JoLynn, a communication studies major, used her vast knowledge of social media as a jumping off point for her research project on which particular media users self disclose. She closely compared Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. Facebook is the most detailed site with the most personal information shared and Twitter is the most simple, a 140-character blog, which forces users such as JoLynn to be more creative, witty, and concise.

However, JoLynn finds Tumblr, a microblogging platform, to be the most interesting. For her Bold Beauty project, she used this quote that describes the site: “If blogs are journals, then tumbleblogs are scrapbooks.” The brevity of Tumbler is what she finds so interesting about the site. “It’s really not about meeting new people or staying in touch with friends,” she said. “It’s about expressing yourself and sharing what’s on your mind.”

JoLynn has one basic principle when using any social media: Always consider privacy the top priority. “There are privacy settings on each site. Sometimes young people my age forget that what you put on the Internet can be accessed by anyone,” said JoLynn. “As a rule I never post anything I wouldn’t want my parents to see. In fact, I am friends with my parents on Facebook!”

JoLynn would like to move her passion for social media into a career. This summer she has an advertising internship working on the marketing team at the Legends of Notre Dame Nightclub, located just outside the university. “Aside from social media, I love music,” JoLynn said. “Ideally, I’d like to get a job in club promotions working for a music venue after graduation.”

JoLynn also has a passion for Saint Mary’s College. “During my time here I’ve definitely come out of my shell,” she said. “I think it was a combination of working for Campus Ministry, working for Legends, and being a communication studies major. In both my jobs, I spend a lot of time working with other students. In my major I’m required to give a lot of speeches and presentations. Both work and school have challenged me to leave my comfort zone. I feel more assertive than I ever have in my entire life."

Light Heart, Big Voice: Angie Schott ’13 Shares through Song

ccox — Tue, 17 May 2011 19:51:15 +0000

Angie Schott ’13 calls herself goofy, dorky, and awkward. She’ll hug a tree for a laugh or dress up as a preteen boy onstage.

And her colorful personality and vibrant mezzo-soprano voice have landed her some prime roles in College productions in her first two years at Saint Mary's: Jack in Into the Woods, Hansel in Fairy Tale Tunes, and Miss Todd in Menotti’s Old Maid and the Thief. Yes, the first two roles involved gender-switching, but no matter. “These have been two of my favorite roles,” Angie said. “I’m a tall, goofy, slightly awkward person, so I’m perfect to play a pre-teen boy!”

Angie Schott '13, left, plays Hansel and
Ashley Stopczynski '13 plays Gretel in
Fairy Tale Tunes in March 2010.

Goofy as she is, Angie is seriously dedicated to her many musical commitments, especially when they involve others. “Even more than singing, I love to create music with other voices,” she said.

She’s involved with Collegiate Choir, Women’s Choir, Madrigal Singers, Opera Workshop, and Bellacappella, the College’s a cappella group that she now leads. “Bella is easily my favorite part of the week, and I am so excited to be in charge of the group,” she said. “Our gift of song has the power to uplift people’s spirits, and I would love to share that gift with as many people as possible.”

An music education major, Angie wants to share music through teaching. “I firmly believe that the arts can reach students in a way that no other class can offer,” she said. “Even the kids (like me) who aren't passionate about math or science can really get excited about the arts.”

Excellent professors, classes, and performance opportunities at Saint Mary’s have taught Angie to appreciate various types of music—even opera. “I didn't listen to opera at all before coming to Saint Mary's,” she said. “I thought the singers were too dramatic, I didn't get the music, and I didn't understand why everyone died at the end. But my perception has totally changed. I have learned to appreciate the vocal endurance it takes to just get through an opera. It's also a lot of music to memorize and perform. But those are the also the reasons why I love performing opera.”

Angie, an Indianapolis resident, is used to hard work and her success in high school is helping today. “I worked really hard in high school, and Saint Mary's realized that and rewarded me for the work that I put in. It is so nice to know that paying for college is so much easier because of just being involved and doing what I loved in high school,” she said. She receives scholarships for academics and extra-curricular activities among other assistance. “Financially, Saint Mary’s made the most sense,” she said.

But the reason she loves Saint Mary’s is the people. “I am surrounded by women who are motivated and who have influenced me to be a better person,” she said. “I also have incredible professors who have taken the time to know me and go out of their way to meet my family at musical activities.”

“Saint Mary's is something different,” she said. “You can find great academics at a lot of schools. However, Saint Mary's offers women a chance to know themselves and develop into strong, independent people. I don't think I can stress enough what a big deal that is. I am now so much more of the person that I want to be and can be because of Saint Mary's.”

Full Steam Ahead: Susan Head '14 Enjoys Dorm Life and Meaningful Connections

ccox — Mon, 16 May 2011 20:52:51 +0000

A poised, sundressed-clad young woman, Susan Head ‘14 appears the very essence of her goal of becoming an author of historical romance novels. With her firecracker personality, determination, and campus involvement, Susan’s ability to pick up a pen and write a best-selling novel seems as if it will be effortless.

Delightful and engaging, Susan has the self-possession and “je ne sais quoi” that others admire. She is working on an English and history double major with a philosophy minor. One of her greatest interests includes reading, and it is not surprising that she wants a related career. Her love of history and English novels certainly will prepare her to become an author.

Within her first weeks on campus in her first year, Susan became involved with writing for The Observer, the joint newspaper between the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College. She also is an avid member of Iron Sharpens Iron, a faith-based, student-run organization at Notre Dame that holds prayer meetings and performs service work among other activities. She enjoys this because of the outgoing people and outreach message involved. She also enjoys lindy-hopping at the Notre Dame Swing Club and helps raise funds for Notre Dame’s chapter of Friends of the Orphans.

Susan’s favorite memories of Saint Mary’s thus far include the silly antics on campus with her closest friends, who include the entire fifth floor of McCandless Hall. “We’ve all created strong bonds among ourselves,” said Susan, who is infamously known for never sleeping and being goofy all night. She calls it a “sleepover that never ends and a sisterhood that is formed instantly.” The study carrels are one of her favorite features of McCandless, a dorm that consists of mostly first-year students.

Susan is from Buffalo, New York, and grew up loving the Notre Dame community. She is weighing the benefits of studying abroad with a summer program, but “cannot imagine giving up one semester at Saint Mary’s.” After spending the summer at home to catch up with family and friends, Susan will return to campus, this time in Le Mans Hall, to start the adventure again.

— Julie McGrail ’12

Global Goals: Emma Thibaudeau ’12 Looks Forward to an International Career

ccox — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:03:40 +0000

Today, it’s Saint Mary’s College for Emma Thibaudeau ’12. Tomorrow, it’s the world stage. The political science major has a passion for international politics and hopes to work in the global arena one day, ideally for the U.S. Department of State.

“Understanding the governments of different countries and the way they interact with each other is endlessly fascinating to me,” she said. “It’s an exciting game with the highest stakes imaginable.”

What sparks her interest? “I love government because the actions of the government affect everyone, no matter who you are,” she said. “It’s a chance to make a difference, to improve the lives of your fellow citizens.”

In addition to her political science concentration, Emma is minoring in a major way in three fields — business administration, history, and Italian, the last of which she added after studying in Rome. “My study abroad experience was very meaningful,” she said. “I met new people and experienced new things. It changed the way I see the world and helped me to discover what I want out of life.”

Far from Rome this summer, Emma will intern with the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts in Atlanta, working in the Performance Audits Division. “This position will give me an opportunity to learn more about government and government-sponsored programs on the state level, which is an area I haven't studied as much in detail,” she said.

On campus, she stays busy: “I love any opportunity to get involved and meet new people,” she said. She plays saxophone for the University of Notre Dame Marching Band and the Hockey Band, which allows her to travel to football games and meet people from both schools.

Emma, right, and Natalie Burkart '12 play in the University
of Notre Dame Marching Band.

Emma is secretary for the Political Science Club and works as a help desk consultant for the information technology department. She’s the vice president of Regina Hall and a board member of the Residence Hall Association. “I enjoyed my time working for Regina Hall as it allowed me to create events for the girls who lived there as well as get involved in events around campus,” she said.

Two alumnae cousins — Amy Huennekens St. Hilaire ’92 and Laura Meyers Malec '98 — recommended Saint Mary’s to Emma. “I am from [Marietta,] Georgia, and wanted to attend college somewhere new and different,” she said. “At first I was hesitant because it was an all-girls school, but after visiting campus for Meet Me at the Avenue, I realized this was the place for me.”

She’s happy with her choice. “What I love about Saint Mary's is that it feels like home,” she said. “The campus is beautiful and serene and I always feel safe and secure living here. I am surrounded by wonderful people every day, and the friends I have made here are my family.”

Saint Mary's students and Notre Dame band members,
from left, Kim Jordan '12, Natalie Burkart '12, Emma,
and Laura Hranac '12.

She’s equally enthusiastic about the College’s academics. “My professors are amazing and helpful. They are always willing to go the extra step, and the education they have given me is invaluable,” she said.

“When I graduate in 2012, I don't know what my next step will be — graduate school, volunteer work, a job — at the moment I have not decided,” she said. “I know that my goal is to work in international politics and I am confident that my Saint Mary's education has prepared me for whatever I choose.”