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 (Class of 2016)
Commencement 2016: Kevin Marin '16
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."
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."
Video
Some students volunteered to talk more about their next steps. Watch videos below and check back from time to time as more graduates step up to talk about their plans.
Eduardo Elizondo Rueda '16
Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico
Major: Math-Computer Science
Next Step: Software engineer for Facebook
"I look forward to contributing and making Facebook better, faster, and more reliable for the 1.3 billion people that use it every month! Lawrence has given me a very good foundation. I was able to pick up and develop world class software almost immediately."
Katie Schumacher '16
Hometown: Little Chute, Wis.
Majors: Psychology, Gender Studies
Next Step: Master's in social and applied psychology at the University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
"I'm very excited to begin a new chapter of my life at the University of Kent, where I can grow academically, professionally and personally. I am confident that my time at Lawrence has prepared me very well for my next chapter."
Elizabeth Burke '16
Hometown: Golden Valley, Minn.
Majors: Economics, Spanish
Next Step: Merchant banking analyst at Piper Jaffray
“I’m looking forward to entering this next stage of my life with the confidence that Lawrence has prepared me to be successful in my new role."
Zachary Martin '16
Hometown: Burlington, Wis.
Major: Economics—Interdisciplinary Area: Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Next Step: Senior business analyst at Optum
“I'm excited to apply the skills and problem-solving techniques I learned in my economic courses to help make health care more efficient and, overall, a better market.”
Katie Mueller '16
Hometown: Lafayette, Colo.
Majors: Biology, Biochemistry, Performance (Voice)
Next Step: Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
“I am excited to start my Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology, which will focus on regenerative medicine and gene therapy.”
Jonathan Hanrahan '16
Hometown: Johnsburg, Ill.
Major: Music performance (Piano)
Next Step: Intern with Meet the Composer at Q2/WQXR (within New York Public Radio)
“In the past year, I've concentrated most on 'new classical music' and radio/podcast production. At MTC, I'll be doing exactly that. I somehow managed to get exactly the post-grad opportunity I was hoping and preparing for.”
Jenny Niedenfuehr '16
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
Major: Anthropology
Next Step: Foundation Certificate, Leiths School of Food and Wine, London, United Kingdom
“I’ve been excited about food and cooking for many years, and Lawrence gave me the freedom to co-found the Cultural Food Club that is still thriving today. I did all my major research projects on various food topics, including a local Japanese restaurant, food market vendors in London and my capstone on Italian mothers and food."
Troy Miller '16
Hometown: Huntley, Ill.
Majors: Economics, Mathematics-Economics
Next Step: Finance Development Program,
Zurich Insurance Group
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to learn and be challenged in order to enhance and further my career development.”
Ruya Zhang '16
Hometown: Beijing, China
Major: Psychology
Next Step: Community social worker in New York
“I am excited to closely help people in minority groups with their mental well-being. The close LU community and frequent teamwork opportunities among classes and activities have taught me to be an open-minded person and to do my best.”
Margaret McNeal '16
Hometown: Mandeville, La.
Major: Performance (Voice)
Next Step: Internship with the Lyric Opera's Chicago Voices project
"While at Lawrence, I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of close faculty mentors who have helped me with independent studies and various projects. It was really eye opening and extremely empowering."
Vahaken Mouradian '16
Hometown: Nicosia, Cyprus
Majors: Politics, Philosophy, Economics (student-designed)
Next Step: Master’s in international security at University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School as a Sié Fellow
“Through my coursework, I've sharpened my analytic and communication skills, which will prove crucial in my life after Lawrence. I’m eagerly awaiting the next step—specializing in security studies—so I can meaningfully contribute to public life in my island-nation, Cyprus.”
Terese Swords '16
Hometown: Evanston, Ill.
Majors: Biology, English
Next Step: Project manager at Epic Systems
"I am excited to work in health care and I am confident that the amazing professors I have had at Lawrence have prepared me both for my career and life in general."