Graduating seniors will soon begin their lives after Lawrence. Many are planning to continue their education. Others are taking the first step into careers. Still others will embrace scholarships. Judging from what they have said, all will miss professors and classmates. Here are just a few who shared their plans with us.
Next Steps 2016
Alice Jamison '16
Hometown: Asheville, N.C.
Major: Biology
Next Step: Dental school at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
"I am greatly looking forward to pursuing my passion in the field of dentistry."
Nutt Punnanitinont '16
Hometown: Udon Thani, Thailand
Major: Biochemistry
Next Step: Research assistant at Rosewell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y.
"I am extremely thrilled to join Dr. Patnaik's lab at Rosewell Park. This opportunity will strengthen my laboratory skills and knowledge while keeping my feet wet in the area of cancer research prior to applying to medical school."
Brandon Kreuder '16
Hometown: Burlington, Wis.
Majors: Performance (Violin), Studio Art
Next Step: Master's in violin performance at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, on a Mancini Institute Fellowship
“I am excited to be living and studying in the city of Miami. I am particularly interested in seeking out opportunities to be involved in both the music and visual arts scene of the city during my program.”
Clare Lauer '16
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Major: Psychology
Next Step: Teaching assistant in France through TAPIF
"I'm incredibly excited to return to France after studying abroad my junior year. I feel so thankful to have this opportunity to continue learning the language and to immerse myself in the French culture!"
Santiago Alvarez '16
Hometown: Lima, Peru
Majors: History, Government
Next Step: US Army, Special Forces
"It has been my dream to join the Army SF like my dad did before me. I believe Lawrence has set me up for success by teaching me how to address issues and solve them even when they are outside of my comfort zone."
Lucy Pipkin '16
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
Majors: Anthropology, Psychology
Next Step: Corps member at AmeriCorps City Year Milwaukee
“I’m excited to get to know students from all walks of life and work closely with a team of dedicated peers. I can’t wait to learn more about how to tutor, assist and lead after-school programs. I’m excited to learn how to help. This is an important first step toward my goal of teaching in the future.”
Jaime Gonzalez '16
Hometown: Hawaiian Gardens, Calif.
Major: Anthropology
Next Step: College coach with College Possible Milwaukee
"I am excited to be able to guide and support college students as they transition and navigate their time in college! I am glad Lawrence partners with College Possible and supported me on my journey to graduation. Now I can give back to a program that has given so much to me!”
Shang Li '16
Hometown: TianJin, China
Majors: Government, History
Next Step: Columbia University School of Social Work
"My liberal arts education at Lawrence has equipped me with strength and abilities I need. With the tools I gained at LU, I am excited to continue bettering lives through fighting for social justice and creating transformative social changes."
Sophie Vogt '16
Hometown: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Majors: Chinese Language and Literature, Linguistics
Next Step: Middle school ESL teacher in South Korea
"I am most excited to live on the other side of the world and eat spicy, flavorful food."
Elena Stabile '16
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
Majors: English, Performance (Voice)
Next Step: Master of Music in voice at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
" I am thrilled to be attending this amazing school, and I'm thankful to my teachers who have nurtured and guided me during my five years at LU, both as an artist and as an individual."
Charlie Martin '16
Hometown: Plymouth, Wis.
Majors: Chemistry, Biochemistry
Next Step: Ph.D. in organic chemistry at University of Colorado Boulder
“Lawrence’s inspiring faculty and supportive students have made it possible for me to continue studying chemistry at the graduate level, where I will participate in exciting, novel research and hopefully become as effective and inspiring a teacher as mine have been!”
Samantha Knott '16
Hometown: Potter, Wis.
Major: Biochemistry
Next Step: Ph.D. in chemical biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
“I am looking forward to continuing my journey in the field of scientific research, while gaining a variety of valuable skills that will allow me to pursue a career in the biomedical research industry. I cannot wait to be challenged, to learn and to grow.”
Hayley Cardinal '16
Hometown: Lombard, Ill.
Majors: German, Linguistics
Next Step: ESL Teacher's aide, Fulbright U.S., Berlin
“Lawrence has given me the confidence to pursue my passions and continue to push myself to learn and share my knowledge as I help teach in Berlin.”
Laura Deneckere '16
Hometown: Madison, Wis.
Major: Biology
Next Step: City Year Corps Member, Americorps, Seattle
"I am looking forward to helping children. I am excited to help them find opportunities similar to those that I was so fortunate to receive during my own childhood."
Alek Wasserman '16
Hometown: Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Major: Performance (Piano)
Next Step: Master's in music teaching at Oberlin Conservatory of Music
"Without the rigor and thoroughness of my Lawrence education, I could not have achieved the high level of music performance and pedagogy that was necessary to go on to graduate study. My time at Lawrence was transformative."
Hallie Hillemann '16
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
Majors: Psychology, Performance (Violin)
Next Step: Master's in special education, applied behavior analysis track, at Vanderbilt University
"I’m looking forward to being part of a community of some of the most innovative scholar-practitioners in the field. Ultimately, I’d like to work clinically with developmentally disabled populations as a board certified behavior analyst or continue on to a Ph.D. program and pursue a career in research."
Araceli Mena '16
Hometown: Round Lake Park, Ill.
Majors: Psychology, Spanish
Next Step: Corps member at AmeriCorps City Year
"I am looking forward to helping empower my community. I want to motivate students and help them see the power of education."
Alexandra Damisch '16
Hometown: Northbrook, Ill.
Majors: Mathematics, Performance (Clarinet)
Next Step: Master's in statistics at University of Minnesota
"I had the opportunity to be a section leader in Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, and also played with the Symphony Orchestra, Clarinet Choir, Opera Orchestra and the 112 Woodwind Quintet. I am excited to pursue a M.Sc. in statistics and hope to continue playing the clarinet."
Kirstin Edwards '16
Hometown: Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Majors: German, Physics
Next Step: ESL Teacher's aide, Fulbright U.S., Berlin
“Teaching will be a very valuable experience, I worked in the Netherlands and really enjoyed working with an international group. I saw a lot of value in that sort of international exchange and felt I would benefit from a more immersive experience in Germany.”
Owen Cook '16
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Major: Physics
Next Step: Ph.D. in physics at Indiana University
”Lawrence was a perfect place for my undergraduate career. I got to continue to play jazz trumpet at my own pace and as much as I wanted. LU physics gave me incredible opportunities from doing professional research in The Netherlands to building and implementing my own scientific apparatus for a capstone project. I can't imagine a better school for me to have attended than LU. “
Sari Hoffman-Dachelet '16
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
Majors: Anthropology, Government
Next Step: Political Leaders of Tomorrow internship coordinator with Women Winning
"I'm looking forward to engaging with the international community and a political community, embracing my love of learning about people and cultures."
Galen Dods '16
Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
Major: Biochemistry
Next Step: Research assistant and lab manager at Indiana University
"The professors at Lawrence taught me the research and critical thinking skills that served as the foundation for the challenging research projects that I undertook here. I am excited to build upon this foundation as I continue to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge during my work at IU."
Zach Ben-Amots '16
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Major: Film Studies
Next Step: Tower Tomorrow Fellowship in Washington, D.C.
"Having found my passion for journalism at Lawrence, I am ecstatic about the opportunity to pursue a career in that field."
Kate Bellile '16
Hometown: Appleton, Wis.
Major: Biology
Next Step: Field Operations Director at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
"I'm excited to be working for an organization that I love dearly! I'll be supporting their mission with skills that I've been practicing directly and indirectly at Lawrence. I'm glad that the skills I've learned in my major can apply broadly, and I also feel confident in my abilities within biology and the scientific world."