Humans of Clarke

Brok Determan

Biology and Pre-Physical Therapy ’26, DPT ’28

I went through two knee surgeries in high school, and I found the physical therapy process so interesting. My therapist was so great to work with; he knew just when to push me and when to ease up. I started researching PT schools and when I found Clarke’s 3+3, I was really intrigued. Getting a scholarship to play football made the decision easy, and the PT department and Clarke community as a whole keep me coming back.

I moved to Dubuque from Benson, Arizona. It was hard at first, but the community embraced me right away, especially the faculty. I have been blown away at how much the professors here care. I know people like Tony Breitbach in Chemistry and Laura Hecker in Biology are in my corner. Michelle Slover is awesome, too. I loved her classes, and she also knows I am a father. When I couldn’t find a daycare over the summer, Michelle’s daughter stepped in. That type of kindness wouldn’t happen just anywhere. People really do treat you like family here.

I work in the Admission Office at Clarke and at Bunker Hill Golf Course to help pay for school and provide for my family. My daughter is two years old, and it can be hard to be away from her while my girlfriend and I balance working and going to school. I keep reminding myself that putting in the time now will lead to a better future for my family. It is my hope to one day open my own PT clinic and weight room. If I keep working toward that goal, I know I can get there. At Clarke, I get to show my daughter that anything is possible if you put in the work, especially if you have a team around you.

Isabella Stratton

Elementary Education  ’25

Growing up, my mom taught preschool. I loved going in to visit her and the kids. I’ve played a lot of different instruments since the 4th grade, and I would share my music with the students. I liked challenging them to try something new, while also supporting them on that path.  

I started at another school with a different major but ultimately, I was drawn to Clarke and Elementary Education. I really like the Professional Development School, where you get to go into area classrooms and work alongside students and teachers, even before your regular student teaching. I am doing my Special Education block at Table Mound right now and working with Individualized Education Plans or IEPs. I know it is going to help me create a more inclusive classroom when I start teaching. 

I also went to India this summer for six weeks on the ANKURI Internship that is offered through the Education program. I worked with elementary and middle school students to improve their conversational English. One of my favorite lessons was building word webs with adjectives, adverbs, and nouns. With a hands-on activity like that, you could see the students make connections and better understand the ideas. We were also able to experience life in India like going to the market, visiting temples, and even attending a Hindi wedding. It was an experience that I won’t forget! 

I have a year-and-a-half to go at Clarke, and I’m going to make the most of it. I’ve started work on my Master of Arts in Education degree with the Early Access Program. I also think it is important to be involved, so I have volunteered as a Tuckpointer and with the Clarke Activities Board. I am on the Cheer and Dance team, too. Getting involved has helped me meet people I might otherwise not have connected with, and all those experiences have made Clarke my home away from home.  

Royal Hart

Undecided  ’27

My family has always been important to me. I was born and raised in Antioch, California, where most of my family is.  Before moving to Iowa my family was extremely close knit. When my grandparents moved to Iowa in 2020 to take care of my great grandmother it separated us for a few years. Then I moved to Iowa in 2022 to attend Clarke University and to remain closer to my grandparents. My parents and sibling soon followed suit to close the gap between them and my grandparents. 

While I love my family and they support me, that doesn’t mean my personal journey here has always been easy. I started on the Women’s Track and Field team and living in the female dorms, but I am a transgender male. I didn’t feel like I was able to truly express myself the way I would like. I wanted to live my life without the constant stress of people misidentifying me. I took a leave of absence so I could focus on my mental health and what would be best for me moving forward. 

Now, I am back in school and I’m finding my way. I am serving on the board of CU Authentically, the LGBTQ+ student organization here on campus. I helped organize and attend Pride events over the summer and we are developing programming for the school year. This year I want to step up and lead, and help others feel safe and welcomed at Clarke. 

As part of that, I also work as a student ambassador in the Admissions Office. I love meeting all the potential students and their families. Sometimes, I do get questions like, “what are you doing here?” when they find out I’m from California or I’m part of the LGBTQ+ community, but I see that as an opportunity to share my story and make a personal connection. If I can find a community here, so can you.  

The Admissions team is also a huge part of my story. The counselors—Alicia, Grace, Daija, Amy, and Jordan, who is also my former coach—are friendly and supportive. Then there is Nicole, who supervises the ambassadors and is always looking out for us. Plus, my mom, Stephanie, works in the department on the technical and communications side of things.  

Working alongside my mom has been great for our relationship because I see her in a different light. Growing up, she was a registered vet tech (RVT) and would take us swimming with dolphins and let us interact with all these animals she worked with. That was amazing, but there is something special about this work too. I can see how thoughtful she is and how much she cares. There are more quiet moments when we have one-on-one conversations we might not normally have.  

With my experience at Clarke, I’ve come to realize how important relationships are to me. That’s why I am considering Psychology or Social Work for my major, or even double majoring. Both fields focus on understanding people, and why they do what they do. That’s a skill that will benefit you no matter what your job title is. And Social Work is a hard major to resist when you have faculty like Tara Velez. She just has this presence, whether you are in her class or just see her in the hallway. You know she is real. She is an advocate. That’s the kind of mark I want to make on the world.  

Jenna Fiedler

Business Administration  ’25

Coming to Clarke, I had no idea what I wanted my major to be. I tried a little bit of everything before I decided on Business Administration. I like that business gives you a strong basis for any field. I added a marketing emphasis because while I am good with numbers and analysis, I like the creative side of things too.  

I get to explore those ideas through my classes at Clarke. I really loved making videos with the help of Clarke’s Digital Media Specialist, Jenni Lehmann, in my Sport Marketing class. She let us be creative while giving us good edits and feedback. In another class, we had to organize a fundraiser. My group decided to host a “pie in the face” contest where students could put money in jars and the Clarke employees with the most money at the end of the week would get pied. There was a lot of organization that went into it – getting the professors and staff on board, making sure people knew about the event, and sharing the results. We raised over $200 for the student travel fund, and I learned that I really like event planning.  

During that project, I worked closely with Callie Clark and Anthony King ’23 in our Student Life Office. At the end of the semester, they approached me about being the CONNECT Coordinator for the 2024 incoming class. I’ve really liked it because I get to do more event planning and meet new people. We are keeping a lot of the traditions, like Bingo Night, but also trying new things like a dance party in the Lion’s Den. I get involved in other ways too throughout the year, like going to Black Student Union and Clarke Activities Board events. If you show up, there will always be people to hang out with. 

I also work for the Brew & Gold Coffee Corner in the Whitlow Campus Store. That’s a cool experience because I feel like my ideas can go places there. At first, I was afraid to mess up because I didn’t really drink coffee, but now I have a drink on the menu! I know I have come a long way. Sarah Haas, Joe Howe, and Kathy Ternes are like a second family to me now.  

You hear that a lot too, that Clarke is like a family. It’s not just the good times, they stand by you no matter what. My sophomore year I got a serious concussion. At first, I tried to play it off like I was fine. I was lucky so many people noticed and jumped in to help me. My friend Lyndsey was a nursing major and recognized the symptoms. She made me get checked out. It was the end of the fall semester, so all my professors worked with me too. One of them even walked me to the Academic Support Center to meet with Marianne Mauss so I could get accommodations through the spring while I recovered. That really meant a lot to me.  

While I’m looking forward to graduation on May 10, I don’t want to take this time for granted. Clarke has introduced me to people from all over the country, and we will spread out again after commencement. I want to enjoy it all while it lasts.  

Jacob Schemmel

Communication  ’25

My first introduction to Clarke was in elementary school when my class went to the Human Body Bee. Looking at and learning about body parts scared me a little, and at first that’s all I thought Clarke was. When I was a senior at Hempstead High School and was thinking about college, my parents told me to visit Clarke and give it another chance and I am glad I did, because now I absolutely love this university. 

Starting college, I didn’t know what I wanted to major in. I’ve always been creative, and I remember a teacher telling me to hold on to that as I grew up. That’s always stayed in the back of my mind. When Chrissy Bartels started as our new Communication professor, I decided to show her my creativity, and when I did, she knew I had potential to do amazing things in my future career, whatever that may be! Her classes are amazing, and she brings so much incredible experience and insight to what we do.  

Chrissy also recommended me as an intern for Susan Gorrell at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival. Working with Susan and getting behind-the-scenes knowledge has been a dream come true. I love storytelling and being creative, so it’s been fun to explore that through film. I even have a submission in this year’s “Made in Iowa” showcase that my group created for Chrissy’s History of Broadcasting course. It will be shown on Sunday, April 28 at 3:15 p.m. at the Five Flags Theatre, so I hope people come out and see it!  

Another way I’ve gotten involved on campus is the esports team. The summer of 2021, I talked to Joshua Moris and Henry Johnston about playing Fortnite for Clarke. After meeting with Henry, and talking it over with my parents, I was ready to sign on. I was the first recruit. Now I’m a captain and have helped the team evolve. I’ve made so many friends and learned a lot about leadership through the esports program. 

There are so many opportunities that have come from taking that leap of faith and saying yes. I was bullied in the past and I’ve always been quiet. Clarke has helped me be myself. I am a leader, I am creative, and I am confident in doing what makes me happy. I am excited to see what comes next and live my life with no regrets. 

Francis Resurreccion

Business Administration & Sport Management  ’25

I’ve always loved golf, ever since I was a kid. When my high school teammate, Justin Everson, came to Clarke, it was like a door opened for me. I hadn’t really thought about competing at the college level. He showed me it was possible to get my degree and play golf, and that I could do both well at Clarke.   

Clarke is about three hours from my hometown of Bartlett, Illinois. When I first moved in, I was a little quiet and reserved. People might laugh at that now, but it took time for me to settle in. Thankfully, the older guys on the golf team took the first year and transfer students under their wing. They made sure we knew expectations were high and held us accountable but saw that we had fun too. With their help, I got more comfortable on campus. 

By my second semester, I realized that getting involved made all the difference. Being a part of something opens you up. I signed up to be a Tuckpointer to help with move-in. I joined the Clarke Activities Board, Dance Marathon, and the Sport Management Club. Some of my friends from those groups are working on a podcast with me to help students be more informed about campus events, too. I also make a point to show up at games for other teams on campus, like basketball and soccer. I like to lead that crowd and let opponents know what they’re up against. 

If you are active on campus, this community will embrace you and that goes for professors, too. People like Teri Stratta and B’Ann Dittmar, their doors are always open. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is how I was able to work a practicum with the golf team into my sport management and business coursework. I’ve been able to look at the operations side of running a team and help Coach (Brandon) Schwebke with recruitment visits. It’s opened my eyes to what I can do with my degree in the future. 

After graduation, I’d love to move down south somewhere so I can play golf all year long. I want to pursue PGA Professional status and work as a Golf Pro one day. The real dream is to own my own course. For now, I’m focusing on my remaining time at Clarke. I want to be the person new students come to when they are trying to find their way at Clarke, just like my teammates were for me.  

Lilly Welu

Undeclared ’27

When I was in high school, I wasn’t really thinking about college. I kind of kept to myself. Then I joined Senior High School’s Cheer and Dance team and met Coach Teri (Mayberry). She became like my second mom. She was so welcoming and helped me build my confidence in myself.  

Teri switched to coaching full-time at Clarke during my senior year of high school, but she remained a big part of my life. She walked with me on senior night and would bring the team from Clarke to cheer us on. When I met the Cheer & Dance team at Clarke, I started making connections right away. They invited me to some of their summer practices. For the first time, I could really see myself going to college. 

Coming in, I really didn’t know what I wanted to study. Thankfully, my advisor, Morgan, has helped me try a little bit of everything – Business, Math, English, you name it. Right now, I’m in a Biology class. I probably wouldn’t have picked it on my own, but I love it. I get to research things I care about, like penguins. I’ve always loved animals and it would be awesome to be able to work with them in the future. Even my Compass Seminar is helping me focus on what I want to do and how I make a path to that future. 

While I figure out my major, I am just enjoying the experiences as they come. In my first year, I already got to travel with the Cheer & Dance team. I was able to perform in Carver Arena when Clarke scrimmaged the University of Iowa Women’s Basketball team this fall. I mean, how many people can say they’ve done a backflip on the Hawkeyes court? Now we have our first competition coming up this spring and I’m so excited. I want to keep pushing myself, and I know there are people here to help me do that.  

Renata Aguilar

Psychology and Social Work ’26

When I was 16, I started traveling with the Honduran national team for soccer. It was amazing to be able to travel to other countries and play the sport I love, but it was hard too. It was my first time being on my own that far from home. One day during practice, our coach brought in a sport psychologist. After five minutes, I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life. I want to be able to help athletes process their emotions while competing at a high level. That’s why I’m double majoring in Psychology and Social Work. 

When the time came to apply for colleges, I looked at schools in Texas, Minnesota, and Iowa. I toured Clarke and fell in love with it right away. At first, I stuck close to the women on the soccer team, but over time I got more comfortable. The other students were a big part of that, but so were the faculty and staff. People like Tim Boffeli and Brenna Burgart in Psychology, Ellen Gabrielleschi in my Compass Seminar, and Julie Cirks and Alicia Schmitt in Admissions see me for who I am. I know I can go to them with anything, whether it’s school related or not. 

One of the most memorable moments of my time at Clarke so far was going on the service trip with Campus Ministry last year. It was amazing to be able to give back, and also to have that time for reflection. We also got to explore and meet cool people, like on our visit to Joppa Mountain pottery. Though some of the other students from that trip have graduated, I have a bond with that group I know we’ll never forget. 

I want to be like all the people who helped me feel welcomed on campus, so this year I joined the Hispanic Student Union as the Vice President. When you are far from your home and your culture, it can be easy to feel disconnected. With this group, we have over 50 members to show you that you are not alone. We have non-Hispanic members too who want to learn about our cultures, and that’s been a great experience. Together, we’ve celebrated the Day of the Dead on campus and attended events in Dubuque.  

As I continue my education, I want to grow as a leader. That means working on my degree, but also getting involved with student organizations, and working in the café, and as a tour guide on campus to help pay for school. It’s hard sometimes, but the hard work pays off. Not every day will be a good day, but at Clarke I’ve learned to find the good in every day.  

Tom Peterson

Business Administration ’24

Over the summer I completed an internship with Cottingham & Butler (C&B), a national insurance broker with its headquarters right here in Dubuque. As a sales intern, I did research, made 800 cold calls, participated in pitch meetings all over the country, and presented a marketing campaign to the C & B Board of Directors. I earned college credit for these amazing experiences while getting paid for my work, so it was a win-win.

What I liked most about my internship was how it brought context to what I’d learned in class. As a Business Administration major, I’ve taken classes on marketing, sales, operations, and other business topics. Professor Maria Morris had us run a pizza shop in Hubro simulations as a class project. We set the price, created a marketing plan, and made sales. My full-time internship at C & B let me put into practice many of the things I’d studied.

Cottingham & Butler appreciated the real-world skills they helped me develop and offered me a job following graduation. Although I plan to pursue an M.S. in Cybersecurity and use my last year of college sports eligibility instead of accepting their job offer, my experience as a paid intern at C & B was invaluable. I will be forever grateful for their mentorship and empowerment.

As I finish my senior year, I have several goals, including bringing home a Conference Championship for the Pride Baseball team. I’ve loved baseball my whole life and being able to play at the college level is a dream come true. I’ve been lucky to have a great group of teammates who work hard and play well together. I appreciate how supportive my professors are too; they hold us accountable and help us balance our class work and the demands of our sport. We made the tournament last year, and though we fell short, I am excited about the opportunity in 2024.

My time at Clarke and in Dubuque has helped me develop many relationships. Coming from Woodbury, Minnesota, I didn’t know anyone when I arrived on campus, but it was easy to make connections. I have a professional network I can count on for recommendations or advice, and I’ve made friends here that I’ll have for life. I’ve bonded with people in Young Professionals, on the baseball team, and in classes. With their support, I feel confident exploring new opportunities. As my last semester at Clarke begins, I hope to finish strong and enjoy every moment.

Joshua Musonda

Computer Science ’25

Early in my life, there was a pastor I looked up to. He spoke with such authority; he was inspiring and encouraging. Like him, I’ve tried to cultivate my gift for speaking and building connections. Over time I’ve come to realize those gifts can do good in many different fields, including technology.  

Computer literacy and technical ability is the way of the future and combining that with an ability to build relationships will put me in a position to make an impact wherever I go. That is why I chose to study Computer Science at Clarke – that, and I was captivated by kindness. Everywhere you go on campus, there was this sense of welcome, even when I was just learning about the school over the phone.   

At first, Computer Science can feel daunting. The way it all changes, you will literally never stop learning, but there is joy in that too. My professor, Josh Moris, also makes that learning and discovery fun. Like this semester, I told him I wanted to build a database that my dad could use in his business back home. Josh matched the idea with the course syllabus and now we are building it together. It is not perfect, but I’m learning a lot, and the tool keeps getting better. 

Like Josh, there are so many people at Clarke who approach the world with kindness and have made it easy to find community here and in Dubuque. For example, I recently went on a camping trip with my church youth group. It was just three days basking in the beauty of nature without our phones or anything. There were rivers and lakes and rolling hills. At night you could see every star. I think moments like that speak to the college experience too. It is not just about what you learn in the classroom, but what you take from time spent with others.  

That’s part of the reason I’ve gotten involved with the African Student Union (ASU) on campus. While the environment is welcoming at Clarke, there is still so much we have to learn about one another. The ASU wants to share our individual cultures and experiences. I have a unique perspective because I have been able to travel so much in my life. My parents are Zambian, but I was born in Botswana, lived there until I was five, and then we moved to South Africa. There is so much value in stepping outside of your environment and trying something new.  

People say that knowledge is power, but it’s more than that. Knowledge is responsibility. You must act on your knowledge, or you take your potential to the grave. I believe everyone has a gift. It may take us years to find, or it may be revealed to us in moments. I want to take every opportunity life presents me, so I can share my gifts with the world.  

Brittney Mundell

Elementary Education and Mathematics ’25

I grew up in a small town south of Rockford, Illinois. In school, I saw friends and classmates struggle. Some of them looked at learning like it was a chore. Watching people around me lose their love for learning wasn’t easy. There was one way I knew I could make a change, and that was becoming an educator. I want to be a teacher who can make them feel pride and responsibility for their work, while also making school fun and exciting. 

My friend Zoie Sellers ’22 came to Clarke for Elementary Education. When she talked about the education department’s philosophy, it aligned with what I was feeling. Every class here puts building a caring, kind community first. Professors like Lee Johnson bring that philosophy to life every day. He focuses on using special education strategies in your classroom. For example, something as simple as both writing out directions and reading them aloud may be considered a special education strategy, but it can help all learners. I’m starting my first Professional Development School block this semester, so I get to test these ideas in real life. 

Building connections is important to me outside of the classroom, too. I am the Treasurer for Teachers for Tomorrow and a student worker for the education department. I also take a lot of pride in being a starter for the volleyball team. There is so much energy that comes from that sport – the touch of a finger can change the whole game. Plus, I’ve gotten to know so many players and coaches, not just with my team but all of athletics. I’ve even been able to work with students and coaches from other schools in the Heart of America Conference. Those connections are a powerful thing.  

Then there is my work as a resident assistant in Mary Benedict Hall, along with my emotional support dog, Ollee. He is an Australian Border collie/Corgi mix. He helps me when my anxiety gets overwhelming, and I think he’s helped a lot of the students on my floor feel at home too. I want to be that resource for people, so they feel safe and accepted here.  

In high school, I wondered if I had to change things about myself. There were people told me I was too loud or too much. Clarke has never made me feel that way. Instead, I decided to push for who I am and see where it takes me. I feel like I belong here, and I want to use my experience to help others. Not just the little citizens I’ll have in my classroom someday, but everyone who needs that resource and support.

Anthony Kelchen

Secondary Education and Mathematics ’24

When I was a sophomore in high school, a friend asked me for help in geometry class. As I started helping him, others reached out. Eventually, I stayed late once or twice a week with this informal study group, and I found I really enjoyed it. That’s how I decided I wanted to become a teacher. 

My sister Shelby Kelchen is ’16, ’18M a graduate of the Clarke education program and knowing how much she enjoyed it; I knew it would be a good fit for me too. I’ve really enjoyed my professors and classes, especially the Professional Development School (PDS). Since I want to teach secondary education and mathematics, I got to spend time in classrooms at Senior High School and Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School. The professors give you a lot of autonomy with PDS. Over six weeks, you have opportunities to teach lessons by yourself. Some people only teach a few, but I really got comfortable in front of my classes.  

During PDS, I also met Mercy Deryke ’22 and she told me about this awesome program she did, the ANKURI International Internship. Through the support of a Clarke alumna, she went to India for six weeks to teach English at a summer camp. With Cathy Stierman’s help, I got the internship this year and spent half my summer in Northern India.  

There was one other student teacher running the camp with me and we had students ranging from 7- to 14-years-old. At first, it was a little intimidating because some of the younger students could understand a little English but did not speak it. Soon, however, we learned that we could work with the older children, and they helped us translate ideas. They became role models and all the students enjoyed themselves. I think this experience will benefit me in my own classroom someday because you will always have communication barriers – no one is a mind reader. As a teacher, you have to be willing to adapt and meet students where they are. 

We tried to make the lessons fun and adaptable too. We found opportunities to talk about American culture and helped the students understand colloquialisms. For example, when first learning English, a lot of the students use superlatives like “excellent” to mean something is good. We were able to connect that with more common slang, like calling something “cool.” I went from being nervous in the classroom to having that time with the students be the highlight of my trip, even though I got to see things like the Taj Mahal! 

I’m going to start my student teaching at Senior High School this semester and I’m excited to get into the classroom again. As a senior, I want to live that Clarke philosophy that I see in people like Cathy Stierman. I am here to help, no matter what, and I love this community.

Beatrice Atienza

Nursing ’25

What drew me to Clarke originally was the prestigious nursing program. When I visited Clarke and went on my tour, the nursing department made it known that their program was going to challenge me in every way imaginable. With a successful rate of graduating seniors out of their program and a reputation for fostering intelligent and respectable nurses, I was drawn to the challenge because it matches my own goals and values.  

My goal is to bring better healthcare to the Philippines. I was raised in the Philippines for 9 years of my life. I grew up speaking Tagalog. However, once my family moved to the USA in 2012, I slowly lost my touch for the language. Though I am not able to fluently speak Tagalog anymore, I still understand it and I want to reconnect with that part of my life. A dream of mine is to bring a medical team to impoverished towns throughout the Philippines to educate citizens about healthcare and provide vaccines, medicine, and other supplies that they might not have. 

I know I can get the skills I need for that dream from the professors here at Clarke. A professor that stands out to me is Brenda Schilling. I took Brenda’s Philosophy of Sex & Love course and even though it was only an 8-week course, it is one I will never forget for multiple reasons. We were not given busy work or quizzes that will not help us in our life. Instead, we were given the freedom to present about which topic interests us the most. With this ability to customize our course, we all learned from each other and had fun doing so.  

I also learn from those around me. I am a Resident Assistant and a member of the Clarke Activities Board. This is important work because I know I am helping shape what the next four years at Clarke will look like for many people. I am also proud to be a member of the Women’s Basketball Team, which has built a dynasty here at Clarke, culminating in this year’s National Championship. 

The whole experience at Sioux City was breathtaking and pushed the team to our limits. As I watched the clock tick away second by second, I vividly remember the confetti falling and the screams of the crowd and my team. Once the confetti fell on us and I saw Taylor Haase ’24 running at me at full speed, all of the workouts, practices, lifts, and conditioning paid off. To this day, I cannot pinpoint how I felt at that moment to a single word. Simply put, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. The pressure of bringing the red banner home was gone, and we all knew that our efforts had paid off. As we sat in the locker room after cutting down the nets, tears were rolling down a lot of people’s cheeks because we all knew that the group we had in that room was special.  

I did not realize how much this championship meant to the community until we got back and saw stores with our flyers, hundreds of people greeted us on Clarke Drive, and little kids were asking for pictures during every celebration. People that I did not even know were congratulating me and when I went to clinicals, patients from the hospital knew who I was!  

As I look ahead to the time I have remaining at Clarke, I want to keep all those good feelings going. My goals are to keep my GPA high, assist in a live birth as part of my OB clinicals, and make another run for the National Championship.  

Steele Fredricks

Biology & Psychology ’26

I had always told my parents that I wanted to volunteer, but in high school the hard part was finding organizations or projects to connect with. Clarke’s Campus Ministry gives me a space to do that. I remember attending mass during CONNECT weekend and Sister K (Kathleen Sinclair, BVM) let me get involved right away. Early on, I would bring up the gifts and participate in mass. Then I started with Into the Streets and Bible Study with Nathan Seutter ’23. I learned more about my faith than I ever thought I could. Nathan showed me around Dubuque, and we started going to different masses and meeting people. For example, we went to the Church of Nativity here in Dubuque and there was a church in Platteville, Wisconsin that had a mass all in Latin. Coming here, I’ve been a part of the church in a way I’ve never been before.  

In the spring, I decided to go on the service trip to Joppa Mountain, Tennessee. Going in, I only knew Nathan and Sister K. I was hesitant too because that’s a long time to be gone, but I’m so glad I went. There were so many different religions and non-religious people and there was no judgement. It was very open and welcoming, and I think that’s true of the Clarke campus too. It was a great way to meet new people and branch out of my comfort zone. I loved it and I’ll definitely go again in the future. 

I had grown up Catholic, and my parents did a great job of allowing me to find my own path in my faith. I’ve been able to build on that here, including choosing to be confirmed. Confirmation is choosing to be an “adult” in the eyes of the church, and I knew I wanted to do it, but hadn’t started sacrament preparation. Then my sister had her son and asked me to be his Godfather. You need all the sacraments to be a Godfather, so it reaffirmed my faith and that it was time to take this step. I was trying to find a time to do it in my home church where my parents were married and my sisters were confirmed, but I’m so involved here it just felt right.  

As part of confirmation, you pick a saint’s name. The idea is, you choose a saint and kind of live by their values and that’s your presence in the church going forward. My middle name is “Colby,” so Father Vu recommended St. Maximilian Kolbe. I started researching him and got really interested. He was around during World War II and made a huge impact. Something that stood out to me was he was known to have been very peaceful when he was dying because he had that trust in God. That spoke to me, because taking this step shows my own trust in God. Now I’m trying to live in his light. My middle name is also in honor of my dad’s brother who passed away when he was 16, so it felt like a nod to his life as well. 

My parents came in from Colorado for the mass and my mom was my confirmation sponsor. We’ve always been really connected through our faith. The whole house was busy, so sometimes it would be just the two of us going to mass on the weekends. We had some wonderful conversations and I look up to her, especially for her faith. I want to model my faith after her.  

My family has done so much for me – yes, they bought my football and soccer cleats, but it’s more than money spent. They also sacrificed their weekends and nights. My family is so close and we’re all so tight, that prepared me to be able to come do my thing at Clarke because I had the best support system at home. Now I want to be involved in everything that I can. Clarke gives you so many opportunities to be who you want to be. I want to get more involved with Campus Ministry and volunteering and be more of a leader in that for Clarke. God has gifted me a great opportunity here to live through his name and him.  

Emma Grant

Graphic Design ’25

I have been a gymnast since I was 2 years old. When my family moved from Texas to Cottage Grove, Minnesota, I continued training and eventually started pole vaulting as well. That’s how I found Clarke; Track and Field Coach Bradley Johnson had seen some photos and videos from my meets and reached out. I hadn’t really heard of Clarke before then, but I thought a visit couldn’t hurt.  

On my visit, I was immediately impressed by the family feel. Brad had a great rapport with all the athletes, and they are such an energetic and supportive group. It was the same around campus. Louise Kames ’77 gave my family and I a one-on-one tour and was so kind. I had visited the University of Texas at Austin as well and was blown away at how different it was. The people at Clarke gave me all the time I needed to ask questions and explore.  

That’s continued during my time as a Graphic Design student too. My professors are all so supportive, like Eric Wold. Last semester I had a project in one of his classes that I was really struggling with. I was creating a 32-page book dedicated to explaining 80s slang to people who don’t speak English. I had so much fun researching and designing the project, but I had hit a wall in layout. I kept getting more and more frustrated. Eric was able to help me, but he also told me to go take a nap. He wasn’t worried about the deadline, he wanted to make sure I was OK first. I was able to walk away and when I came back, we fixed it together. I am so proud of how it turned out. Even when I felt like I was failing, I was ‘failing correctly’ because I was learning something and getting better. 

It’s not just the professors in my major, either. I remember in Drawing I, I was sketching a hallway in Eliza Kelly that is filled with old theater posters and things. The third floor has offices outside the art department, and even those professors were so supportive. They would compliment my work as they went by or offer to adjust the lighting in the hall if I needed it. They made sure no one moved my chair so I kept the same perspective throughout the project. Stuff like that just cements how much people care here. 

I’m always looking for ways to build more connections like that. I was in the choir, I’m on the track and field team, I submit art to the Tenth Muse Literary Magazine, and I’m an academic coach in the MARC. Getting involved, I’m able to pull lessons from all these different experiences and people. They make me a better student, athlete, designer, and person. Yes, it can be scary to put yourself out there, but if you keep doing things – even if you’re afraid – you will keep getting better.   

Christopher Brodrick

Business Administration and Pre-Law ’24

On August 8, 2021, I left South Africa for the United States. Since then, I have missed things like the birth of my niece and my younger siblings growing up. The other day, I was on a video call with my younger brother and had to have my little sister hold the phone and make him stand by the door frame to prove he was almost as tall as me now. He’ll be looking at the top of my head by the time I get back.  

These little things are hard, and they touch your heart, but I had always wanted to pursue an education in the United States. If something is important to you, you must be willing to work for it. Being away from home has been good for me in a lot of ways and I wouldn’t be the man I am today without my time here. I am setting a path for those to follow me. I am showing my younger siblings and friends what an education can do.  

I did find some comfort when I met Joshua Musonda, a Computer Science major at Clarke. We met at a campus picnic at the start of the fall semester and started talking. He said he was from South Africa and as we chatted some more, it turned out he was not only from the same city, but even the same suburb and estate as me. I thought he was messing with me until he started naming people I knew. We’d grown up just four houses away from each other and never knew it. My friends and I used to ride our bikes and “ding-dong ditch” his house! I told him to tell his parents I’m sorry. 

Now we can share those experiences from home and it helps keep the connection strong. For example, there are 11 official languages in South Africa and it is common in conversations to mix parts of them. We call it Vernac. To be able to speak to Josh in my Mother Tongue connects me to home in a way that is hard to explain to anyone else. We share an essence, and we’re not forgetting our roots. 

I also found community at Clarke through the Men’s Soccer team. I had originally come to the States to play at a junior college, and we had a friendly match against Clarke. I was the only person on my team to score on Clarke and the next week, Coach Mike Paye was visiting my school. It felt like a sign. Moving to Clarke was about more than the game, it was about the culture. It is deeper than friendships, it is a brotherhood that translates off the pitch. I know I can go to my teammates or my coaches to talk about life, they are there for the highs and lows. The teachers at Clarke are the same – people like Aimee Taylor and Josh Moris, and a lot of the other professors – they care about you, they will talk about life, not just school.  

As I get to know more people on campus, they have shared their culture with me. They’ve introduced me to things like pumpkin patches and eggnog, which is a very strange drink. Those shared experiences can mean so much. I joined the Africa and the Diaspora Student Union to share parts of my culture with my new friends here in Dubuque. Every day, other African students and I are learning about the culture here, and we want to give back to this community through meals and stories from our home. These experiences also help to demystify Africa – we are not what you see on TV, nor is every part of Africa the same. Joining a club or attending an event like that can be a very powerful experience.  

In college, I’ve met people from all over the world – Portugal, Italy, France, Russia, Japan and all these places. Getting that worldview is just as important as my studies in Business and Law. If you are willing to put yourself out there, you can learn so much. With what I’ve learned and what I’ve gained here at Clarke, I am confident that I can go out into the world and be successful. I will proudly carry the Clarke Pride banner with me. 

Nicole McDermott

Sport Management and Business Administration ’24

Quite honestly, I felt like my path to college was slightly backwards. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in – I was interested in athletic training, physical therapy, and even pediatrics – so I was having a hard time narrowing down my list of schools. My junior year of high school, I had a basketball tournament in the Kehl Center and Coach Boyd introduced herself to me. We built a connection, and then I started to connect with the team too. After a month, I knew I was going to end up at Clarke. The team gave me a hard time because I told Tina Ubl I was “in” in February and I don’t think I formally committed to the coaches until June, but I knew. Every time I stepped on campus, I was so excited.

While basketball brought me to Clarke, it also helped me decide on my major. I realized that the reason I had been interested in PT and AT was that I could work with athletes. I have always loved sports and so the idea of working in the sport industry someday was exciting, which ultimately lead me to decide to pursue a Sport Management degree. For specific classes I have taken, there are three that have had a big impact and offered confirmation that I chose the right path. First, Sport Marketing and Communication brought out my passion for marketing. In Financing Sport Organizations, I helped the Clarke Football team market their inaugural golf outing. I communicated a lot with the football coaches and my professor to make sure there was information posted on social media, posters were created, businesses were notified, and hole sponsor signage was ordered. I had a lot of fun getting real, hands-on experience planning an event and doing all the behind-the-scenes work. Finally, there was Facility and Event Management where a partner and I went to Cascade and did a full inspection of my high school gym. We looked for ADA compliance issues, and any other risks that were present. With this information, we created a presentation that we shared with the class. I’m really proud of all the work we put into that project and the learning points that I was able to take away.

I also work in the Marketing & Communications Office on campus. I am one of their video interns, along with Kainoa Gerard. He and Jenni Lehmann are amazing with video, and the whole team is so funny, kind, and supportive of who I am becoming. I have learned so much about creating videos and other things, and I have shown myself that I have the potential to do all the things they do.

As I look ahead to my senior year, I have recognized that these years are my absolute favorite, and I want to soak it all in. After having a perfect year, both in the classroom, earning a 4.0 GPA, and on the basketball court, winning a National Championship, going into my senior year I am looking forward to striving to achieve similar goals, but I also want to make sure I involve those around me. Being a successful student-athlete, you learn skills such as communication, time management, organization, and relationship building. As I have been able to learn and hopefully eventually master these skills, people start to look towards me for guidance and as a positive role model they can trust. I joined a basketball program that had leaders that I looked up to, even as a junior. That just goes to show the greatness of this program, that there is continuous leadership that everyone looks up to.

I hope to somehow fill those shoes as a senior, just as those before me did for me. I have found who I really am at college, and most importantly, through the people around me, I’ve learned what it means to not be afraid to be my true self. I’ve discovered what it means to be truly happy around people who are genuinely excited to be where they are. I’ve loved my time here at Clarke thus far. The past three years have been a dream come true, and I am excited to live out my senior year and graduate with my best friends. Everything happens for a reason, and I’m discovering that reason here at Clarke!

Anthony King

Psychology ’23

I remember when I first visited Clarke, probably three or four people said “hi” to my mom and I before we even got inside. Coming from a big city like Denver, Colorado, we weren’t used to that. At first, we thought it was weird, but the more time we spent on campus, we realized it was genuine. It gave me that family feeling right away. 

Looking back on it now, I realize what a big step college is. You are suddenly independent and so far from home. That first semester I decided to go all in. I realized what an opportunity college is – neither of my parents were able to go to college, and I’m the first man in my family to do so. I had bonded with the guys on the football team right away, and I wanted more. I signed up for everything – Psychology Club, Culinary Club, Dungeons & Dragons – you name it. I was also fortunate enough to connect with Ali Boyd. She was one of the first people to see me for who I am and was very interested in my story. I became a tour guide for her and the team in the Admissions Office, and I still give tours.  

Academically, there are many people who impacted me along the way as well. Aimee Taylor and her CU-100 course taught me a lot of the skills that I still use to be successful now. Teri Stratta was another one – her classes are interesting, and she cares about you outside the classroom too. Then there’s Tim Boffeli. Tim and I have an interesting relationship. I’m a Psychology major and when I started, I probably wasn’t taking school as seriously as I could have. Tim set me straight. He pushed me because he was invested in me. Now that I’m a senior, Tim has told me he is proud of me, and hearing that meant the world to me. 

As I got more involved, I wanted to share that with other people too. As a junior, I made it my goal to meet a new freshman on the football team every day during camp. I know the difference a smiling face can make when you are new here. Sometimes when you need help, it can be hard to go to a professor or coach, but you can always go to a friend. 

That’s part of the reason I became a Resident Assistant, too. I love being that smiling face and helping people out. Plus, you get to participate in Prayer Partners with the BVM sisters. I’m paired with (former Clarke provost and vice president of academic affairs) Joan Lingen, and (president emerita) Catherine Dunn joins us sometimes too. I remember geeking out when I met her, I was telling everybody it was “THE Catherine Dunn, from the apartments!” Joan and Catherine are great, their stories are amazing, and we learn so much from each other. They even came to my Senior Day football game to cheer me on. They found my parents while I was on the field and introduced themselves, and that made such an impression on my mom and dad. They always ask about Joan and Catherine now. 

Of all the ways I’ve gotten involved, one that I really enjoyed was Black Student Union. Dubuque is a small, predominantly white community so having Black Student Union gives myself and others a place where we can be our genuine selves. We can ask some honest questions and keep things open. I was Vice President my sophomore year and President my junior and senior year. I’m working with Will Hudson, Assistant Director of Engagement & Intercultural Programs on our first Black Graduate Celebration, and we just interviewed for next year’s executive board, so I’m proud to see that continue. 

With graduation coming, I can already feel the butterflies starting but I know I have a lot to be proud of. It wasn’t always easy. I’ve been forced to grow and let go of bad habits. I can and did overcome. I plan to take a year off before starting graduate school for sport psychology, yet my focus remains the same: each day, I wake up determined to make this day better than the last, and to be a blessing to those around me.  

Daniel Mycroft

Undecided ’26

When I was in high school outside of Seattle, Washington, everyone thought soccer was going to be the path for me. I was the goalie for our team the year we won the State Tournament, and we were in a competitive division. But after years and years of training, I felt burnt out. I walked away and wanted to find something new. 

I still had that competitive streak, so when I started playing the video game Madden, it was a natural fit. As an athlete, I’d always been focused on the strategy of the game and that’s what Madden is – you are trying to put together a football team based on statistics. It follows the NFL season and just like in professional football; the dynamics of the game change a little bit each year. In Madden 20 you were maybe looking for size, while Madden 21 favored speed. You can pull current and legacy players, so it really takes a lot of thinking and mental focus. 

I qualified for my first Madden tournament in 2019 and when I was telling my mom about it, she immediately asked, “what scam did you fall for?” Yes, there is a kind of stigma around Esports, but people are coming to respect the scene. I train and practice like any other athlete. It’s not the stereotype of someone sitting alone in their basement. I have traveled and made friends with people across the United States playing Madden. There is a chat of 300-400 of the best players in the world going at all times. When things were shut down during COVID, Madden and other Esports tournaments were being televised on ESPN with major cash prizes, and interest has only grown since then. There are people out there making real careers around gaming. 

I think Clarke University sees that – they’re investing in Esports as they become more mainstream. That’s part of the reason I chose Clarke, there are coaching and scholarship opportunities here that you can’t find other places, and I can still compete professionally. I also like that they have majors I am interested in. As a freshman, I am still deciding between Sport Management and Psychology because one day I’d like to scout for the NFL or work as a team psychologist. I am so interested in understanding that competitive mindset and maximizing my potential, and I’d like to help others with that as well. 

That mindset doesn’t just apply to gaming either. It’s my first year in college and on top of training I was really proud to earn a spot on the dean’s list. In the last year, I set a goal to work on my physical health; now I’ve lost 80 pounds and I’m working towards benching 225. In all areas of my life, I thrive when I build in these little challenges and goals for myself. The Madden season will pick up again in August when Madden 24 releases, but between now and then I’ll keep doing the work so I can be at my best, no matter what.  

Sky Culbertson

Health, Wellness, and Behavioral Sciences ’23, MSW ’24

Being a part of the Women’s Basketball team has been a tremendous part of my experience at Clarke. When you are on a team, there is this natural sense of community; you are lifting, practicing, traveling, and playing together. Participating in a team sport can be a powerful and fun way to stay motivated and push yourself while also forming strong, lifelong relationships. 

At Clarke, that sense of community also goes beyond the people on your team, or just the sport itself. I’ve been on the team for five years now and Coach Boyd instills in us the importance of being a good person, on and off the court. For example, I started volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dubuque. Their mission is to provide the youth of Dubuque with programs that promote health and wellness, character development, leadership, education, and social skills. Over time, I’ve been able to get the whole basketball team involved. This fall we had an opportunity to eat with the kids and have great conversation. After that, we went and played basketball in the gym. It may seem like this simple thing, but it meant a lot to those kids to have a safe space to go and play, and to have mentorship like that.  

Aside from this experience, I was also able to lead a different project that involved an organization called “Oh Happy Play!” which is led by Clarke Assistant Professor of Education Jacqueline Hunter. They collect and donate “lightly loved” toys to families in our community. I involved the Clarke Women’s Basketball team by inviting their family and friends to participate in a toy drive that would be held at two of our home games, and we had a great turnout. 

I’ve always wanted to get more involved in my community but was afraid of putting myself out there. With the help of my team, family, and friends, and organizations like the Boys and Girls Club and “Oh Happy Play!” I was able to face my fears and do something I have always wanted to do. Now I’ve gotten involved with Dance Marathon and the Clarke Inclusive Games as well. This year I was even selected for the Clarke Compass Award, so I’ll get to take on a new community service project with a group of students and mentors. We have come up with some pretty amazing ideas in order to help other people in the community and I can’t wait to see how successful this group will be! 

This is my senior year and while I am hoping this is the year we bring home a national championship, I’m most focused on giving my all to Clarke and making memories with my best friends. Graduation won’t be the end of my time here though – because I had completed most of my Health, Wellness, and Behavioral Sciences course work, I added some Social Work classes this year and fell in love. I will be completing an internship for Social Work this spring and into the summer, and then I’ll begin my Master of Social Work with Clarke in Fall 2023.  

Until then, I hope to continue volunteering and being involved in my community. I grew up just 15 minutes away in East Dubuque, so I know that what I learn here, be it from my professors, coaches, volunteer opportunities, or the amazing group of friends around me, I can use that to make my community better. We talk a lot about “Be a Better Human” at Clarke, and it’s true. Everything I’m learning helps me and others, and it’s very rewarding. 

Olivia Gossard

Psychology ’22

I came to Clarke as a transfer student from Kirkwood Community College and at first, I was worried about making connections. I thought it might be harder because I was coming in late, but the atmosphere here is great. With the small classes, I’ve gotten to know my professors, classmates, and my advisor really well. That includes my coworkers too. It’s funny, my first semester at Clarke I was coming into the Campus Store almost every day for a coffee and would just hang out and chat. One day, the manager, Sarah, pushed an application across the counter with my coffee and I’ve been working there ever since. I love it, and it’s helped me get to know even more people on campus. 

On top of that, my Psychology professors and classmates really understand me. We can be open about our mental health and how we’re doing. We support each other through class, study groups, and outside of the classroom. I’m a first-generation student as well as a transfer, so counting on people like my advisor, Tim Boffeli, has been so important. He’s encouraged me and helped with so much, especially as I consider my master’s degree. The Psychology students joke that we need to order “What Would Tim Do” bracelets to wear once we all graduate, to remind us to think outside the box in our own practices. 

Tim also encouraged me to do an internship over the summer. It’s not required for Psychology, but it can make a huge difference on a graduate school application. I worked at the Teresa Shelter serving women who have been affected by homelessness. I loved the one-on-one conversations with women. We talked about where they came from, where they are now, and where they want to go. Once they knew they were safe and cared for, you could see these women blossom.  

At the same time, it is hard to face some of these situations. There is something called “compassion fatigue” and I didn’t really know about that concept until I learned about it in class and felt it in my summer internship. You want so badly to help, but you are limited in your time and energy as well. Knowing that, our professors emphasize the importance of self-care, and they build it into our courses. For example, in my Behavior Modification course, we picked one attribute in ourselves that we wanted to work on, and we focused on it all semester. I’m also taking a Positive Psychology course and one day, we all chose to meditate in class. We incorporate these practices into our work, but also in caring for ourselves.  

I’m graduating this December and it’s a big day for my family. My parents have been my biggest cheerleaders and I know they’ll come in from Clinton (IA) to celebrate. The day after I complete my last final, I’ll be starting as a Behavior Technician at Hills & Dales here in Dubuque. I also plan to start graduate school in the fall, hopefully in Loras’s Mental Health Counseling program.  

While I’m considering other schools as well, I’d love to stay in Dubuque.  Even though Dubuque is a bigger city, it still has a lot of aspects that help it feel small. There are fun things to do here, but you can still get to know everyone. I worked on campus, but I also worked in the community at River Lights Bookstore and Trendsetters Boutique. People joke about retail therapy but working those jobs has helped me build connections and relationships with people. Everywhere I’ve gone I’ve had these amazing support systems and it has made Dubuque feel like home. 

Josiah Nichols

Sport Management and Business Administration ’24

Coming to Clarke and Dubuque, Iowa was a big change from Las Vegas, Nevada – especially the weather. I’m used to waking up at 7 a.m. and it is 80 degrees outside and now I wake up at 7 a.m. and it is 40. But I really enjoy seeing all four seasons because in Vegas you get summer and just a sliver of winter. You don’t get to see things develop and change like you do here. 

Besides adjusting to the weather, finding the right friend group was a huge part of coming to college. I knew I wanted to be involved in the community, so I found others who wanted to do the same. (Anthony) King is the big Admissions guy. He’s always giving tours and stuff on campus, and now I’m a Student Ambassador too. Sean is the photographer who goes to everything, and Darius is so well-known around campus. I surround myself with positive people and they keep pushing me to better myself. 

I know I can rely on my guys and football teammates, but I put myself out there in other ways too. I’m the secretary of the Black Student Union and that’s probably one of my favorite things I’ve done here because I get to learn so much, things that they don’t cover or talk about in high school. I hear other people’s experiences and it’s exciting to be able to learn from each other, especially when I see younger students come in. 

I’m part of the Clarke Student Association too. I joke that we’re the bosses of Clarke, because when there is an event on campus, everyone turns to us. It’s fun, but you also have to think things through and be responsible. I think it’s made me a better leader. 

My first and second year at Clarke, I wanted to be involved but I also realized I wasn’t great at time management, so I started going to the MARC. I have to give a big shoutout to Gina Burkart because she really worked with me. Every week, we would set my academic goals and my personal goals, and it’s helped me so much in the classroom and with staying on a schedule. Now that I have a system, I feel like I have more free time because I get the work done first. 

Sometimes when people hear “the MARC” they think it’s tutoring and it’s this formal thing. It’s more like having a buddy who checks in with you. Yes, Gina was there for the academic stuff, but if I needed to rant or just run through things with her, she’d talk about anything. We’d usually go over our time because we were having such good conversations.  

I’m the first in my family to go to college, so there were a lot of people I reached out to. The Clarke Admissions and Financial Aid staff really showed me the best options for my family and I, so we knew what we were going to have planned in the future. My advisor, coaches, and other staff helped too. 

A lot of people at Clarke are like that. They are always stopping in to check on you. I’m a Sport Mangement major, so I work with Teri Stratta all the time. She’s just so down-to-earth and engaged, I love my classes with her. I was also surprised how fascinated I’ve been by Nutrition and Food Science. I didn’t know much coming in, and you actually get to cook and chop vegetables and really experience your senses in class. But what really gets me is Sunil – we’re doing stuff like practicing our knife skills and he just looks like a proud dad. He takes pictures and has this big smile on his face. You know he’s enjoying the moment too. 

I’m a junior, so I’m still figuring out my plan for after college. I would like to coach, but the more I do in my major I’m finding I really like the photography, videography, and marketing side of Sport Management. It’s not something I’d experienced much prior to Clarke, but I enjoy it and I know there is a big demand for it. When people are trying to get recruited for college or that next level, they want that paparazzi moment or highlight reel.  

For now, I just take it one day at a time. Even when things get stressful, I just jam out to my music, smile, and think about how blessed I am. I’m thankful I get to go to class, to put on my uniform. I get to do things that so many people wish they could do. I’ve been blessed with opportunities, and I want to make the most of them. 

Addison Grimmett

Sport Management and Business Administration ’25

In the spring of 2021, my mom was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer. She had a really aggressive treatment schedule and even though the chemotherapy left her so tired, she came to my prom and attended my graduation. She was always there for me and my siblings, even when she was so weak she couldn’t pick up my youngest sister.  

I remember when her hair started to fall out. My mom always had this long, pretty blonde hair and she was so proud of it. She was so upset, and my grandma told me I had to shave it for her. So here we were, out in the backyard shaving my mom’s head and it was so hard, but through all of it my dad just kept telling us, “God has got your mom. He’s made her strong. And when she can’t be strong, she’s got us.” 

Knowing my mom was going through all that made it hard to move away for college, but even on my first visit I felt at home at Clarke. Like I’d been here for years. I’m only an hour and a half from Waterloo so if I need to go home I can, but because I’m not living with my parents, I’ve grown up a lot. I’m learning to do all this stuff on my own like manage my time and my money.  

The MARC has been a big help with some of that stuff. Coming from Waterloo, you can get a chip on your shoulder, and it can be hard to ask for help. That’s how it is where I’m from. You can’t show everyone who you are right away. Now, I feel like I have a better attitude. Then there are the professors like Deann Petitgout, Kent Anderson, and Brenda Schilling. Teri Strata is so funny and amazing. I remember one time we were at study tables and it was 8 p.m. and we could not figure out our assignment. So, we texted her and she called us and walked us through it. You don’t get that support at other places. 

Being on the softball team has been a big part of my experience. Coach Garland and I talk all the time. He’s from Waterloo and understands where I come from. My teammates and I are always together too, whether it’s games, practice, study tables, or just hanging out at someone’s house. I feel like we’re a more mature team this year, and that’s because Coach pushes us, and we push each other. Like the other day, the Miracle League had a game while we were practicing. Coach gave us a 10-minute break and told us to go cheer those kids on as loud as we could. We ended up playing with them for a while and had a great time. We didn’t do it because people were watching, we did it because it was a kind thing to do. It meant something to them and to us.  

The same thing happens at our games. We wear ribbons for different causes, we will dedicate games to people. The day I found out my mom was cancer free; I wasn’t able to travel with the team, but they still dedicated that game to me and my mom.  

Every day, I always wear two bracelets – one for breast cancer awareness and one for Black Lives Matter because they are both causes that are important to me. One time in Waterloo, I got pulled over. It was just for an expired tag, but the cops started asking my boyfriend at the time, who was Black, all of these questions. Some people think that’s a one in a million story, but it’s not. Instead, you could be the one in a million to stop stuff like that from happening.    

In Waterloo, sometimes we have to grow up for different reasons. It’s not always positive. But if you put in the work, you can make things happen. I think I’d like to be an Athletic Director one day at a high school like Waterloo East. A lot of the kids there don’t understand that their sport can help them change their situation. Sometimes they think a D1 scholarship is the only way out, but there are so many opportunities out there. I’m going to a four-year college with a scholarship. Do the work and you can make it happen. 

Victoria Patnaude

Social Work and Psychology, minor in English ’24

I grew up in Pikeville, North Carolina. Coming from a small town, learning how to branch out and make new friends was extremely difficult. My whole life, I felt as though I was stuck in the friend groups that had been created early on and had nowhere else to go. Breaking out of this mindset was something I did not learn until I came to Clarke. 

I began playing volleyball my freshman year of high school. I was on the team in middle school, but I definitely rode the bench and did not have fun. It was just something I did because it was expected, as I was very tall for my age. My high school/travel volleyball coach Tangela Faulkner truly fostered my passion for the sport. After our first school ball season together, Tangela recruited me for her travel team, Carolina Shockwave Volleyball Club. This woman is the entire reason I am so determined to become, not only the best player, but the best overall person I can possibly be. I have no idea where I would be in life without her guidance and leading me to volleyball.  

Being a student athlete has called for a lot of time management, especially when I am in season. Traveling for games in the fall semester is the most difficult portion. Finding the motivation and willpower to do work on the bus while also staying mentally ready for the upcoming match is a skill that took me a bit to master. Consistently communicating with my professors and not being afraid to ask for help has also been critical to my ability of staying on top of my studies while also participating on a sports team. 

Having an academic advisor that specializes in my preferred field at Clarke has been a huge help in navigating what programs and courses would best assist me. Tim Boffeli has been honest with me, and I truly feel as though he wants to see me succeed. He and Tom Riley have had large impacts on how I view my college education. Both of these professors are fully invested in teaching their students more than the course work — they truly want to make us better, rounded individuals. They are always engaged and excited for lecture, and willing to work with your schedule when you need office hours. 

“One Clarke, One Community” was something I had heard many times prior to starting my freshman year, but I didn’t know just how integrated this statement truly is. Being able to have discussion with the lovely ladies in the Dining Hall, getting to know my professors on a more personal level, and being able to call the President of Clarke by his first name and attend his inauguration are all critical parts of what Clarke is. It truly does feel like home, and I know I have all the support I could ever need here. 

It was difficult coming to Clarke my first year not being as involved in the community as I would have liked. My father is high risk for Covid, and my family always took safety as seriously as possible. The Campus Ministry Service Trip to Walls, Mississippi was the first volunteer project I participated in, and it felt so good to be able to do my part once again! My group helped de-shingle and re-shingle a roof, as well as do landscaping for a woman who was wheelchair-bound. Our project took about a week to complete and seeing the joy on Mrs. Mack’s face prior to our departure made it completely worth it. I am glad to have been able to get both doses of the Covid vaccine, so then I felt safe to attend the trip. 

I also got more involved on campus, as I obtained the position of secretary for the Clarke Association of Student Athletes, worked in the MARC and for Athletics under Casey Tauber. I meet a lot of students and make connections with faculty through that job, and I’m super happy to have it. I have also attended more on-campus events, such as basketball games, the Teddy Swims concert, President Thom’s inauguration, winning first place for the Clash of the Classes Bake-off, and Clarke Fest. 

This upcoming academic year, I will officially be an upper classman. I hope to be someone younger students can look up to and not be afraid to reach out to. Having these kinds of people when I first came to Clarke made a world of a difference, and I am extremely blessed to have had their guidance and knowledge. Being able to give back in that way to incoming students would mean everything to me.  

I always do my absolute best to make sure no one feels left out or apart, because I know exactly how bad this pain hurts. I was severely bullied by my peers up until junior year of high school. Instead of becoming bitter because of my negative experiences, I became overly kind and extremely socially aware of other people’s emotions. I would try so hard to make others like me, even if it was to my own demise. Through almost a year of dedicated, weekly therapy sessions, I can confidently say I have gotten to a point in my life where I have remained kind and wanting to help others, but I also am aware I need to take care of myself too. I am very grateful for the current relationships I have with people, as they are getting to meet and know a healed, healthy Victoria. 

I do attend therapy through Clarke University Counseling Services. I previously went to an outside clinic in Dubuque, but the therapist I was seeing was not beneficial to me in the long run. I started seeing them in April of 2021 and continued to up until August 2021. Over the summer, I met with them twice a week via Teams. They were knowledgeable, but a “yes-man”. It came to a point where I thought I was making progress, but it was loosely fabricated, and I quickly fell apart upon returning to school. I am beyond grateful to have reached out to counseling services on campus. I have seen different therapists in my search for growth and the individual I currently see is the first person I have been able to connect with on every level. This is another way Clarke has shown me just how much they care about a student’s full well-being.  

As someone who has experienced traumatic events in their lifetime, I am a strong advocate for mental health and well-being. I believe being able to discuss mental health and illness can help others be unafraid to stand up for themselves and get the help they may need. The road to becoming healthy is challenging and nowhere near easy, but it is not impossible. I once thought it was true that I would be unhappy and damaged forever, but I am now standing on the other side and have found consistent peace. I know there will still be times I get into a hijacked state and become overly emotional, but the knowledge and tools I have obtained in my journey have enabled me to effectively take care of myself. 

Post getting my undergraduate degree, I plan on pursuing my master’s in social work at Clarke. I hope to go into therapy/counseling with adolescents who have a troubled home life. 

Thuy Vy Tran

Psychology and Religious Studies, minor in Philosophy ’22

Diego Arenas

Graphic Design ’22

Will Clark

Sports Management and Business Administration ’22

Jackie Moss

Music, concentration in vocal performance ’21

Jenna Schwartzhoff

Secondary Education and History ’21

Darius Hernandez

Business Administration and Sports Management

Emphases in Finance and Marketing ’22

Rory Bickler

Health, Wellness, and Behavioral Sciences, Pre-PT

minor in Nutrition and Food Science ’24

Abigail Husemann

Elementary Education, endorsement in Special Education ’22

Keith Johnson

Biology, minor in Mathematics ’21

Tatum Brim

Psychology and Business with an emphasis in Finance ’21

At Disney I am doing various tasks and events during my internship. My current job location is Magic Kingdom, where I have the opportunity to network with leaders and coordinators who have been working at the Walt Disney company for decades. I have the privilege to interact with guests with various backgrounds and experiences. I help with food preparations, stocking, communicating with co-workers and other interns. One of the most memorable experiences thus far is learning the history of Disney and their investment financially into interns’ educations. Disney also provides a ton of networking events, and opportunities for interns to grow within the company. They also provide college interns the opportunity to be trained in different locations throughout the resort.

Becky Herrig and the Career Services Office have been extremely helpful and flexible with me to complete my two internships and have them count as credit at Clarke. Many students may not know that the job you are working right now could fit the requirements of an internship. I suggest talking to Becky and she can help you. In regard to why internships are important, they are important because you get on the job experience, you learn professionalism first-hand. For example, Disney is extremely strict when it comes to professionalism and I’m thankful that Clarke has prepared me and helped me become successful with Disney. My internship experience has and will continue to open many doors for professional and full-time positions after graduation. I firmly believe an internship is the most life-changing class/credit one can take.

I am planning on graduating early in December and my goal is to stay with the Walt Disney Company by working for ESPN. I love sports and not playing volleyball this year was a tough decision but having the opportunity to work and grow with the Walt Disney Company was an opportunity I couldn’t walk away from. I want to thank my professors for working with me, administrators, and coaches for guiding me to this amazing path.

Some advice I have for future students is to dream big, but to never forget that with a dream comes hard work. Also, if a class is difficult, please talk to your professor! All the staff here want you to succeed and will be willing to help you. Tim Boffeli and Loren Rice have been two professors who have gone out of their way to help me and navigate me on the best path not only career wise, but for life. Get out of your comfort zone because you never know what opportunities may be created from that one moment.

I am so incredibly grateful to my family and the staff at Clarke, from Becky, to my advisors, to my coach for all helping me create this dream into a reality.

Echo DeVries

Biochemistry & Mathematics ’20

Damien Higashi

Health Wellness Behavioral Science ’20

Vincent Forseth

Sport Management ’22

Kaniyiah Mattison

Psychology ’22

Not everyone comes to college equally prepared. Attending classes at Clarke or a university in general is more challenging than classes in high school. For starters, you need to be far more self-reliant. This was definitely my biggest challenge. Professors typically do not bug you about studying or completing assignments on time. It is honestly easy to fall behind in your coursework if you do not use your time wisely. I have been able to overcome this challenge by working hard and spending extra time studying. It is great to see everything paying off, especially when looking at my grades!

Antonia Naab

Social Work & Psychology ’20, MSW ’21

I have faced many challenges to get to where I am today. In high school, my parents got divorced, which impacted me in a negative way. Additionally, a week before I began my senior year in the social work program at Clarke, I found out I was pregnant. I thought of just taking the year off at that point, but instead, I decided I would push through it. This was not easy by any means, because I was sick every single day of my pregnancy while completing a 440 hour internship. There were many occasions where I wanted to give up, but luckily I had an amazing amount of support from my professors and peers which kept me motivated. I cannot thank them enough for that.

Halie Denlinger

Elementary Education ‘17, M.A Education ‘20

As I have settled into my classroom these past couple of years, I have made so many connections to what I learned during my time at Clarke. I vividly remember going into local Dubuque schools as a Clarke student; teaching literacy using the balanced literacy approach, reading, planning, writing IEPS, and creating and implementing interventions. When I do these things now in my own kindergarten classroom, I can almost always make a connection to what we learned and practiced at Clarke. It was an easy decision to continue my Master’s degree here. My courses well prepared me for teaching in today’s world because the courses, professors, content, assignments, etc., were all so relatable and worthwhile. I never felt like I was doing work just to do it, and always wanted to fully apply myself. The education I received from Clarke has not only helped me improve my teaching, but has also given me confidence going into the classroom each day. I am motivated to offer my students the best learning experience I can, taking into account not just academics, but also my social & emotional well-being.

Kaylee Rowland

Nursing ’23

I am a bit of a perfectionist. In the past, my perfectionism has hindered my success in athletics and academics, but Clarke has helped me learn to accept mistakes because I am pushing myself to achieve more. Part of how Clarke has prepared me professionally is how I have learned to accept my peers as part of my team in working to be successful together. I have really appreciated the family atmosphere at Clarke since the beginning of my time here – coming to Clarke made my transition from high school to college easy.

Anthony Gonzalez

Biology ’22

Madison Stagman

Athletic Training ’21

Since I began attending Clarke, I feel like I have grown so much as a person. College had always seemed daunting to me because I was not sure if I would fit in. I thought coming from an extremely small hometown and high school would have had a negative impact on my transition to college, especially since I am not a very outgoing person. I was worried about feeling lost, or not being able to make friends. However, I was wrong. Clarke’s small class sizes and smaller campus made me feel right at home. Being here, I get a sense of living in a closely-knit community where you know everyone and know that they care about you. During my CONNECT Orientation in 2017, I met some of my closest friends. I have kept these friends for the past three years and have experienced some of my favorite moments with them.

Clarke has not only helped me a lot personally, but with my professional development as well. I have always been an active member of Clarke’s Athletic Training Society (CATS), which has given me the opportunity to work within the community of athletic training by volunteering at Mount Carmel. The AT program at Clarke has prepared me for my future in many ways. Upon graduation, I will have worked through nine different clinical rotations in both high school and college settings. More importantly, I had the chance to work with a wide variety of clinical instructors, athletes, and sports that I was not super familiar with. My favorite memory from Clarke is surprisingly school related – it is just being able to practice what I love; my athletic training skills. I always appreciate the time we get to practice various techniques such as ankle taping, massaging, or stretching.

With all of these experiences, I believe I have made positive changes in how I communicate, socialize, problem solve, manage money, and perceive life. Clarke has pushed me to take more risks. I am more open to starting conversations with people as well as trying new things because the Clarke community is so welcoming and caring. Once I graduate, I would like to get a Master’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration. My ultimate goal is to become an athletic trainer for the military. Otherwise, I would also like to work at a high school or college as an athletic trainer or athletic director.

Taiga Sato

Mathematics & Computer Information Systems ’21

I have always had to be pretty independent because most of my family lives in Japan. The only family I have in the U.S. is my younger brother who lives in California, which is where I lived before I transferred to Clarke. It has been difficult to be thousands of miles away from my family and not being able to rely on them as much, especially since the pandemic began. Thankfully, all of my family members in Japan are staying safe and healthy as well as my brother in California. My brother and I will most likely not go see our family in Japan this winter like usual, but that is a small price to pay compared to putting everyone at risk. We previously have used technology to stay in touch and see each other’s faces, so that part is not anything new. Being so far away from my family is part of the reason why Clarke has been such a great fit for me. My entire time here, the Clarke community has made me feel welcome and Clarke has definitely become a home away from home.

Lacie Smith

Social Work ’21

I am originally from Darlington, Wisconsin, and I previously obtained my Associate’s Degree in Human Services from Southwestern Technical College. I really enjoy being involved in extra-curricular clubs at Clarke because it gives me that opportunity to be social, meet new people, help people, and have fun. My favorite memories at Clarke are just the times spent with my friends and the new relationships I have formed. I find that Clarke has been a great fit for me because it suits my personality. The transition was super easy. I am currently involved in Clarke’s Inclusive Games, Clarke’s Social Work Club, and the Wind Ensemble. Outside of Clarke, I also work at the Hodan Center in Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

At a young age, I was diagnosed with cancer, which made school a lot more difficult for me. I had to miss many days of class – however, going through that experience and coming out on top has taught me how to adapt to tough situations and to accept challenges that come my way. These are skills that have not only helped me excel in college, but have allowed me to take a steps to become the best version of myself. As a social work major, I highly value the close relationships in my life and I hope to build more relationships with others in the future.

One thing I love about Clarke is that I am able to gain experience as well as knowledge. The social work courses I have taken here have broadened my knowledge of social work, which has built confidence in my ability to become a successful social worker. I have seen how my hard work pays off here.

After I graduate from Clarke, I plan to stay with the Hodan Center for the time being and see where that takes me. I feel that continuing my education at Clarke has prepared me to get a job once I am out of school. I know for sure that I would like to work with people who have disabilities – I am open to any new opportunities that might come my way!

Emily Boge

English, Business, & Philosophy ’21

When I think back to myself as a scared first-year student at Clarke, I realize how much I have changed. I’m a commuter student – I remember always driving home immediately after class freshman year because I felt like I had no reason to stay on campus. Even though I did make friends, I didn’t get involved in anything until I joined the Scholar’s program and became part of the Tenth Muse staff my sophomore year. From that point on, I found myself staying on campus for hours before and after my classes so I could hang out with my friends or do homework.

Transitional periods in my life have always been difficult. I did not expect much to change with my involvement moving from high school to college. At first, I struggled with the change of workload, and increased importance of time management. However, I found a “new normal,” and have definitely found my place here. I am currently the president of the Scholar’s program, treasurer of Page-Turners, co-editor-in-chief of Tenth Muse literary magazine, and an academic writing coach and tutor in the MARC.

As I look back on the beginning of my time at Clarke and how I was eventually able to flourish and utilize my strengths, I realized that clinging to the familiar held me back from so many great opportunities Clarke had to offer. I wish I had known that during my freshman year and taken advantage. I have grown so much personally as well during my time at Clarke. After my first semester here, I found that my perspective on life had changed in ways I didn’t expect. I was able to put myself in others’ shoes and learn a lot about the diversity of people who come from different backgrounds. To me, that lesson is invaluable.

My favorite memories from Clarke are the dinners with friends at the end of each semester. I truly enjoy reflecting on everything we have accomplished over the course of the semester. The food is always great as well! Coming to Clarke gave me the chance to meet so many new people, some who will be my lifelong friends. The bonds I have made here are ones I will forever cherish. Aside from these new relationships and personal growth, Clarke has prepared me professionally as well. I owe a lot of gratitude to my professors who have taught me everything I know. Through course curriculum I have learned many transferable skills, such as how to read and think critically, and write analytically. I plan to use those skills in my professional career as well as in any additional schooling. Being here has also helped me build an outside network of connections with local professionals.

Once I leave Clarke, my goal is to essentially be happy and successful in whatever I find myself doing. I do have a goal to attend law school, but I can accept that my future plans are ever-changing (my advisors would agree!). No matter where I end up immediately after graduation, I have hopes to raise a family in the Dubuque area eventually.

Madison Kirschbaum

Nursing ’23

Clarke has provided me with countless opportunities already as a freshman, and I know there are still many more to come. I am involved with the Clarke Association of Nursing Students (CANS) as well as Clarke Inclusive Games, where I have been nominated to be the treasurer. Some of my favorite memories at Clarke so far have been taking part in Inclusive Games because it is so rewarding knowing that I am impacting others in a positive way.

As an aspiring labor and delivery nurse, I have been doing everything I can to set myself up for success, with the help of Clarke. I currently work at the Hills and Dales Residential Center – volunteering with Clarke Inclusive Games inspired me to apply. This could open more doors for me in the future since I plan to stay in the area once I graduate. After graduation, I hope to return to Clarke to obtain my DNP after I gain some experience in the workforce.

Gavin Collingwood

Sport Management & Business ’20

It has honestly been a challenge trying to figure out my end career path. I have many different skills and love sports (mostly golf), photography, and welding. For the time being, I have chosen to pursue a career in golf, which is partially what led me to Clarke – I played on the Men’s Golf team all four years. I applied to 8 golf courses during the Fall Semester of my junior year at Clarke and had opportunities to work for the Colorado PGA Youth Division or the Club at Cordillera (also located in Colorado), which was the opportunity I decided to pursue last summer. It was an amazing experience, but it was weird being very far away from home for the 1st time. I just moved out to Avon, Colorado and will be working full-time at the course that I had my internship at last summer.

Megan Bauer

Doctor of Nursing Practice ’23

I initially came to Clarke to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing with the goal of continuing my education through Clarke’s DNP program afterwards. When I originally enrolled in the DNP program at Clarke, I planned to finish the program in three years. However, prior to starting the program for my first year last August, I discovered that I was pregnant with my son, Sullivan. This obviously altered my plans, but with the support of my friends, family, and husband, I decided to stay enrolled in the program and complete the program in four years. I am extremely grateful and lucky that Clarke has been able to accommodate my needs at this time and still make it possible for me to complete my degree within a reasonable time frame while being a new mother.

Michael Nacnac

Business Administration ’21

I am originally from Hawaii, so the transition to Dubuque definitely had its challenges. I learned to adapt to the people here a lot easier than the weather. Clarke is smaller than both my high school and junior college, but coming here allowed me to see just how welcoming the community was and gave me the opportunity to be more socially interactive. I feel that Clarke strives to build students’ communication skills. As a business administration major emphasizing in marketing, having that skill is really helpful. Getting exposure to talking with people in the business workforce makes me think more about what options I have for the future, and what I would like to do after graduation.

Maggie Diossy

Psychology ’20

I grew up in a single-parent household for most of my life. My mom was such an amazing role model for me. We’ve navigated through life together since I was five. Not having two parents was challenging at times – I wouldn’t say that my journey this far has been tough, but it was certainly not typical. I have become more resilient from this experience and learned that I can do whatever I put my mind to. I believe that whatever life throws at me, I will come out stronger on the other side.

Lennard Panthier

Nursing & Philosophy ’20

I am the eldest of nine children, born on the Caribbean Island of Dominica. I was raised by my single mother and late grandfather. My mother struggled and worked hard to provide for our family, but as I saw her hard work and resiliency pay off, I understood that I needed to do the same if I am going to be successful in life. As a child, I was told that I would not and could not do anything significant, and as a young man, I was often ostracized for my affiliation with the LGBTQ community. However, the adversity I have faced has pushed me even further to become great. I feel blessed to have had my family’s support, and new friends I have made since coming to America. My journey eventually brought me to Clarke, and through the nursing program, I have found a profession that I am drawn to that allows me to care for others.

During my time at Clarke, I have been a member of the collegiate choir and have served on the Collegiate Choir Student Board. Presently, I am the senior class representative of the Clarke Association of Nursing Students (CANS). Additionally, I am an inducted member of Phi Sigma Tau, which is the Greek honor society celebrating and investigating the values of philosophy and its application to the community. Clarke has allowed me to open up beyond the limits I had set for myself, truly self-actualize, explore the unknown, and reach my untapped potential.

The values, experiences, and friendships I have acquired here at Clarke have helped me develop personally, spiritually, and academically. On a professional level, I have realized the value of an investigative mind. To fulfill the common good, one must not merely work in society but have the awareness and competence to impact the lives of others. After I complete my journey at Clarke, I intend to take the NCLEX exam in hopes to pursue a career in nursing. It is also my goal to obtain a Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree and eventually become a family nurse practitioner, specializing in the care and management of HIV/AIDS. Aside from that, I want to motivate others to recognize their own potential.

My fondest memories from Clarke involve the wonderful friendships and people I have come to know, love, and cherish. I will remember the laughs, the tears, and even the tougher days because they have helped me in becoming a well-rounded individual. During these tough, unprecedented times involving COVID-19, I was disappointed to have to say goodbye to all of my friends and colleagues so abruptly. Luckily, I already had my clinical for the nursing program completed in the Fall semester. As a nursing major, it was difficult to adjust to online classes at first because our courses have a hands-on aspect that is hard to replicate online. Outside of school, I am still working at Finley Hospital where I try my best to bring as much comfort and support to patients as possible. I believe that these times are a test to humanity, and I hope that we emerge stronger in the end.

Paige Murphy

Athletic Training ’21

I feel like I did not have a lot of the same opportunities as other high school students transitioning into college. Coming from a small town and a small high school of only 30 others in my graduating class, I did not have the option to take a wide range of courses or even have access to a track to run on. In my senior year of high school, I took some college courses from UW-Platteville just to make sure I was going to be on the right path with athletic training. Although I played three sports in high school, our lack of facilities hindered my chances of continuing track and field in college because our practices were held on a gravel parking lot. Luckily, Clarke still saw my talent and also gave me the chance to pursue athletic training and physical therapy. While facing those challenges, I learned to see them as opportunities.

Alison Roach

Nursing ’21

One of the biggest challenges that I have had to face to get where I am now is figuring out the best path for me. My passion lies not only in caring for and nurturing people but animals as well. I went back and forth trying to figure out where my gifts would best be used. I ultimately decided on nursing, as that is a career where I can use my skills, empathy, and compassion to help and support others.

Since coming to Clarke, I have been involved with many different activities, including CANS and volunteering in the Dubuque community. My favorite volunteering experience so far has been at Cozy Corner Adult Day Services because I found it very rewarding to help individuals with special needs. I was able to interact with these adults with different activities, games, and small conversations.

Maddie Ro

Psychology ’21

I was born and raised near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and never would have expected to end up in Iowa. Toronto has a population of about 7 million people, so coming to Dubuque was quite a culture shock. However, I believe to this day that coming to Clarke was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am a junior this year and will graduate early next fall with a BA in psychology. I participate in the psychology club when I can, but spend most of my time as the captain of the women’s volleyball team. Volleyball was initially what had drawn me to Clarke, but even after my first season and first semester of school, I realized that Clarke was so much more.

Clarke has both changed me and prepared me well for my future in a way I never would have expected. I attended public school my entire life and did not know what I would get out of a private, Catholic, liberal arts college. Some students complain about having to take elective courses, but I greatly enjoyed them because I got to explore other topics of interest such as U.S. history, music, and art, at a college level. I feel as though I have become an even more well-rounded person, and have gained a broader understanding of religion and spirituality as well.

Being an international student definitely has its struggles, because it can make just enrolling in school, traveling home, or even small things like getting a phone plan a lot more complicated. As a non-American citizen, I didn’t have some of the same scholarship opportunities, specifically from FAFSA, which I know helps many students afford college. There were many more adjustments I needed to make as well. For example, I had to prepare to take the SAT test in high school, which does not exist in Canada, adjust to a completely different grading scale using a GPA, and remembering to spell it “favorite,” instead of “favourite.” As my years at Clarke have gone by, I still struggle financially because the exchange rate between Canada and the United States is quite poor, and especially because my mom is a single mother who is supporting two kids going to college in the states. I would not be here if I was not given the many scholarship opportunities I have been awarded from Clarke.

As most of the world is currently fighting against COVID-19, this also means a couple of things for me in my situation. The U.S/Canada border is now closed, and only Canadian citizens can enter Canada from the U.S side. I am still able to enter Canada and return home since I am a Canadian citizen, however, my parents are most likely unable to cross the border to come to get me. I live near Toronto, which is above the state of New York, so it is not really possible for me to get home at this time. It has been unsettling knowing that I am far from my family and in a different country, but even more so that they are physically unable to get me. I also know that when the time comes I may have difficulty crossing the border. Luckily I live off-campus, so I do have a home for the remainder of the semester. Clarke’s faculty and staff have also been super supportive during this time. Like always, they have said to let them know if I need anything.

After graduation, I hope to attend grad school in California to obtain my Master’s degree in forensic psychology, and possibly a doctorate degree later on. I am fully confident that Clarke has prepared me to not only be successful in grad school, but also in the rest of my life. I feel as though I have really matured here, and have developed a newfound excitement to learn. When I eventually look back at my time at Clarke, I will say that my favorite memories were every win on the volleyball court that I cherished with my teammates. I am lucky to have established new life-long relationships and have made some lifelong memories.

Luis Montalvo

Biology ’23

Coming to Clarke as a transfer student from Puerto Rico has been a little tough for me. Leaving my hometown to become a student-athlete in another country has brought some challenges – the language barrier, for example. Since my first language is Spanish, I’ve had a little trouble expressing myself with others when I really need to. But, thanks to the community that Clarke has, I’ve managed to get used to it and I’m starting to notice better results with my speaking abilities.

Bailey Theisen

Elementary Education ’20

When I first started looking at different colleges and universities, I did not want to stay in the area I grew up in (Bellevue, Iowa). I wanted to get as far away from this area as I could. However, the minute I walked onto Clarke’s campus, I knew this was going to be the best fit for me. I chose Clarke on a gut feeling, and it was the best decision I have ever made. I have never felt more prepared to begin my future as an educator. The Clarke Education program has given me the support, resources, and love to be as successful as I can be while at Clarke and after.

Teri Kauffmann

Nursing ’22

Clarke was a big move for me. I came here from NICC as a non-traditional student. I’m a mom of two, a wife, and I work part-time on the Labor and Delivery unit at Finley Hospital. Throwing all that into the mix of a full-time college student is a challenge itself. It was after having our daughter at 33 weeks at the University of Iowa Hospital that I realized I needed a change. Working a 9-5 office job wasn’t enough for me anymore, but I wasn’t a young spring chicken either. I was nearing 30! I started at NICC because I thought it would be a better fit for me as a non-traditional student. Some days were easier than others, and I had moments where I thought about dropping out. My experience transferring to Clarke from a community college was amazing. My admissions counselors helped me with every step, answered all my questions, and made the switch very smooth. My professors have been great, everyone is helpful, and my academics have shown this was the right path for me. Earning my AA before coming to Clarke was cost-effective for me, and I was able to go at my own pace.

Sami Brookens

Biology ’21

There was this great philosopher named David Hume. He believed that we know and understand things by our impressions of those things. In other words, we remember things not by the substance, but by individual moments and our sensations and reflections in those moments.

I had a great childhood. Great friends, amazing parents, and family. I am very proud of where I come from. On the other hand, throughout my life, I have struggled with finding out who I am or why I am here. In coming to Clarke, I thought I had it all figured out. As silly as it sounds I thought it was simple as, get my degree, get a job, get married. As with most things, it hasn’t always gone according to plan. I have changed thanks to the moments I have had at Clarke.

Kylee Allen

Nursing ’22

The biggest challenge I had to face when coming to Clarke was my age. I graduated high school two years early and started my freshman year at Clarke at the age of 16. I faced a lot of adversity and was told countless times that I would not be able to adapt to college life. I was told that I would not be able to achieve the goals that I had set for myself because I was “too young” to know what I wanted to do with my life. There were times where I would be discouraged by the negativity, however, I knew that I could achieve my goals as long as I worked hard and did not allow other people’s opinions to define my ability.

Lauren Jones

Nursing and Psychology ’20

I am from Chicago originally. I moved to Dubuque about 5 years ago when I was given an opportunity to go back to school. As a single, working parent of two boys (ages 7 & 9), and with my mom and most of my family many miles away, it was a great challenge. There are many struggles involved with being a parent attending college, including finding childcare I could trust, dealing with behavioral challenges with my youngest son, sacrificing studies, and staying up late to study so my babies would still have my presence in their lives.

Personally, my biggest adjustment with returning to school at age 34 was getting back into writing papers and test-taking. Although it was tough at first, I was determined not to fail. The best thing that helped me on my way was developing a time management schedule with help from the MARC at Clarke. This, along with gaining support within the Dubuque community (like the Dream Center), provided the help my family and I needed. Although I faced setbacks to get to where I am now, I have no regrets. It is never too late to follow your dreams.

Attending Clarke has enhanced my desire to help others. I enjoy giving back to my community any way God allows me. I have volunteered at the Multicultural Family Center’s teen night, Cozy Corner, and Four Oak’s Supervised Community Treatment (SCT). I also studied abroad in the Dominican Republic with Clarke’s Nursing program, learning of their culture, and helping them with their healthcare needs. I try my best to instill a “helping” attitude in my boys as well. Our household motto is “it’s nice to be nice.” From passing fruit out in the community to helping someone with yard work, our motto has helped my boys have appreciation and joy in their hearts. I am also on the parent committee of the Dubuque Dream Center. Being a voice for other parents in the community, my number one commitment is to continue being present in my boys’ lives and an active parent in their school and programs.

My greatest memory of Clarke is the diverse group of friends I have made while attending. I enjoyed learning about other cultures through these friends made and it has added great insight to the curriculum taught at Clarke about diversity. I can take this along with me in a clinical setting while caring for clients. I am also thankful for the Nursing and Psychology faculty that has empowered me throughout this journey, they have impacted my life more than they will ever know.

Clarke has prepared me to gain knowledge to contribute my skills to the world. I have the ability to utilize problem-solving skills and evidence-based practice in a healthcare setting. I would like to specialize in Mental Health Nursing, advocating for mental health clients, and breaking the stigma that is currently portrayed. I would like to further my education by receiving additional certification within mental health. I also have an interest in becoming a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (S.A.N.E. Nurse), and later possibly specializing in Forensic Nursing.

Maddy Luedtke

Pre-PT and Biology ’23

I am a single mom who bartends for a living. I had to pause school for four years to raise my son and make sure I didn’t miss all of his firsts – first steps, first words, etc. Financially it has been a struggle. People think it’s so easy for single moms to get financial aid, but in reality, it’s not. The availability of programs made to help single parents to go back to school isn’t as big as it used to be. My mom has been a huge help in watching my son at night when I need to do late-night study sessions or school activities. I honestly wouldn’t be able to be as successful as I’ve been here if it wasn’t for her help.

Leah Schaefer

Nursing ’20

One of the biggest challenges I had to face when coming to Clarke was adapting to city life. I grew up on a farm in Goose Lake, Iowa, which is about an hour south of Dubuque. All my life, I had only ever lived in a rural area, so moving to an urban area for 4 years was a culture shock. Back where I am from, everyone knows everyone and you can make conversation with anyone whether or not you know them. The nearest gas station or store is about 15-20 minutes from our farm. My family runs a cow/calf operation, raises chickens, and we have show cattle as well. The weekends that I am not in Dubuque, I go home to help on the farm.

If you were to ask any of my friends, they would say I am the most outgoing one. My parents call me the “wild child” because I know how to have a fun time. I think every student is nervous when they first come to college, but Clarke is probably where I have changed the most. I can talk to anyone, whether I know them or not. I always like to joke around with my friends that I could talk to a wall if I had to. I guess that is just the type of person I am. Knowing that something could happen tomorrow, I live every day to the fullest.

John O’Rourke

Computer Information Systems ’20

I have changed in a lot of ways since coming to Clarke. As a freshman, I was closed off and not a very social person at all. I would spend most of the time in my dorm just doing homework or playing video games when I wasn’t at volleyball practice. Near the end of my freshman year, I came out of my shell and began to branch out more and try to make some friends. Now, nearing the end of my junior year, I can hold a conversation with so many people here on campus, even outside of our team.

Charlotte Rodewald

Graphic Design and English ’20

I feel like I live at Clarke, even though I’m a commuter student. As an art major, I am usually on campus working on projects in the graphic design lab or helping set up galleries. I am in the Scholars Program, which I absolutely love. Through the Scholars Program, we do several activities throughout the year including an Academic Conference and Dance Marathon. I have submitted poems and artwork to the Tenth muse since I was a freshman and I will be joining the production team next year. I became a writer for the Crux last semester as well as an officer in the Dungeons and Dragons Club where I run some of the campaigns as the Dungeon Master.

My experience winning at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) awards was completely and utterly out of this world. I still can’t believe that it happened. Before this year’s competition, I had won Silver honors in the Regional AAF competition and one Judge’s Choice award, so I only had a vague idea of what happened beyond Regionals. When I entered my poster, Ed’s Chuck Wagon, it was like suddenly the flood gates were opened. I received my first Gold award, a Judge’s Choice award, and Best of Show for Regionals. At District 9, I was awarded the Gold honor and then went on to earn a Silver award in the National Competition.

I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams that I could get so far in the AAF awards. It is hard to describe the feeling when the thing you have been training for gets recognized by the top of your field. It’s like every single time you were frustrated, angry, upset with yourself, or felt like you would never be good enough, was worth it, because it pushed you to work harder. As an art student, I feel validated in my decision to become an artist. I made the right choice to pursue my dreams, and everything I have learned at Clarke has enabled me to get to the National competition in Florida where I met the designers and the heads for advertising for companies like Coca-Cola and Adobe. I feel more than ever that I know what I want to get from my career as an artist. It was very inspiring, seeing these head designers emphasizing the idea that advertising can change the world, and showing it through their work.

I was homeschooled in high school, so going from that to Clarke was a big adjustment. I have gained a lot of confidence through my time at Clarke. My friends and family have all commented that they feel like I have really blossomed here. I believe that Clarke has prepared me for my future professionally and personally. Just seeing the work of both students and professionals in my field at the AAF Nationals shows that the values taught by our teachers hold up to what could be considered the national standard. Our teachers don’t just focus on advertising or traditional art, but they also place emphasis on teaching their students a range of skills so not only will they be able to have any position they want in the art field, but they can also communicate with other fields and understand their languages.

The teachers here at Clarke want you to be able to feel confident talking with superiors or colleagues about work as well be able to be a professional freelancer that could manage everything singularly. For example, all art students take a photography class so we can properly document our work and know how professional cameras work. We all learn how to work the machines in the woodworking room and are all well-versed in the attributes of various types of paper, printing methods, and what is preferred for any given task. It really is a program that wants you to be well-rounded. You are taught how to think like a designer, how to come up with compelling ideas, then you are taught the 2D and 3D skills needed to create the idea, the camera skills to professionally capture that work, the Adobe programs to arrange it, typography, website design, copywriting, production layout, and printing techniques. If I needed to, with the skills that Clarke taught me, even though I still have another year to go, I feel confident that I could create an entire brand by myself.

I think my favorite memory from Clarke would be all the times I had to stay up late in the lab with my friends. I know it sounds weird, but having everyone together, working on the same project, blasting music, and taking breaks here and there to wake our legs up makes those long nights not so long. We can joke around and throw around some ideas for our project. It also gives the different class years the opportunity to mix, get to know each other, and to pass down some knowledge and best practices.

Josh Sanchez

Business Administration and Sports Management ’20

Motivation is key for me. Knowing I’m the first in my family to go to college really motivates me. I want to get good grades and graduate to make an impact on my family. In the past, my family and I were homeless for a period of time. So now, ultimately, getting a good job and being able to take care of my parents is really important to me. My work ethic has become very strong. My brothers are hard workers and they have been amazing examples for me. I take pride in being a student-athlete. Being in college is rough, and being a dedicated student-athlete is very challenging. I balance my time between academics, sports, and working outside of campus, and am so thankful for the support of my coach and team.

Maggie Chwieralski

Business Administration & Psychology ’20

Thinking back, I would have never seen myself studying here in Iowa. Coming from the northern suburbs of Chicago, moving to Iowa was a tremendous adjustment freshman year. I enjoy adventures in the outdoors! I quickly turned my Chicago downtown adventures into Mississippi river walks and hikes at the Mines of Spain. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with what Iowa offers.

My parents were born and raised in Poland. I am the first generation daughter to move away from home and go to college. I come from the most diverse high school in our district, Maine East. All of my friends back home speak multiple languages. This was definitely my toughest transition to adapt to at Clarke because I no longer had my daily practices of speaking my native language. But being different here at Clarke allowed me to get more involved by teaching others about my roots. I will forever be grateful for being bilingual. One thing that has remained constant throughout my life is the difficulty others face when trying to pronounce my last name. In addition, it will never get old to see people’s reactions when they first hear me speak Polish. Teaching others about Poland and speaking Polish to new people is actually my favorite memory from freshman year.

Brandon Heckendorf

Sport Management ’22

I am majoring in sport management and will graduate in 2022. I am a member of the sport management club along with being a member of the scholars program. Clarke has taught me so much about how to grow and mature professionally. I have learned how to take hold of opportunities that come my way and market myself to future employers. Clarke has shown me the importance of making connections with people, and I have already started that. I have definitely gained a greater amount of responsibility by living on my own. I am now much more organized with my personal life, school life, and football. I have improved on time management skills and completing my assignments on time.

Chelsea Davis

Master of Social Work ’19

I find myself identifying as a multitude of things. When people see me, they assume that I am a female and I am in a wheelchair. But there are a lot more things that identify me. I am a student, a social worker, a disabled person, woman, mother, partner, aunt, and sister. I have lots of different elements about me that you’d never know by just looking at me. I wasn’t always disabled. I have been in a wheelchair for just the past four years. Growing up, I was an average kid. I came from a very broken home. My father was abusive and controlling to my mother, and my mom had a lot of mental illness. That was my childhood.

Hattie Frana

History and Philosophy ’19

I was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome in the summer of 2009 after a referral to a geneticist and a blood test to confirm karyotype. I am from Calmar, Iowa, but had to spend time in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Rochester, Minnesota, seeing geneticists, cardiologists, audiologists, and orthopedics. I had several x-rays on my spine which showed mild scoliosis. I was bullied in elementary and middle school because I did not fit in with the other children. I am only 4 feet 11 inches tall and was always much shorter than my classmates. I also did not understand the jokes they tried to make even if I was the brunt of that joke. I had to take growth hormone injections which limited my ability to enjoy sleepovers because the medicine had to stay close. During middle school and high school, I had issues with math classes which eventually led to my second diagnosis of a Nonverbal Learning Disorder. This disorder affects my communication and social skills which makes it hard to interact and take directions from others. I have to tell people that I take most directions literally and can’t detect sarcasm as easily as others.

None of this has stopped me from graduating close to the top of my high school class and graduating from Clarke with honors. I am going to law school at University of Iowa in Iowa City. After graduating with my J.D., I want to practice law as an immigration and child’s right lawyer.

At Clarke, I was involved in music for campus mass. I was also part of both Scholars and Phi Sigma Tao Honor Society. I was a small faith-sharing group leader and was involved with two campus ministry mission trips, one to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one to Memphis, Tennessee. During our Memphis trip, we helped refugee children, prepared a church for MLK 50, and gave eye exams to underserved children in the Memphis School System. Also, I traveled to Costa Rica with my philosophy class, which allowed me to interact with more people who spoke Spanish which will be relevant to my career as an immigration attorney. My biggest involvement at Clarke was with Peace, Betterment, and Justice Club (PB&J), where I learned invaluable communication and advocacy skills which will greatly help me as an attorney. I served as secretary and president for one year each. In the PB&J Club, I set up meetings to focus on social advocacy issues and provided service opportunities such as teams for Into the Streets, which I participated in three times.

I also took part in Dance Marathon every year I was at Clarke. This event holds a special place in mine and my family’s heart as my cousin, Trever Block, is one of Dance Marathon’s Miracle Kids.

Clarke provided me with so many opportunities to grow. One of these opportunities that stands out was an internship with Reynolds and Kenline L.L.P. I got to watch jury selection, create my own exhibit for a focus group, watch two other focus groups, and make sure all of the files made it into the online system by scanning the paper versions. Clarke also put me in touch with Americorps, which challenged me to even better my communication skills with those who work on a professional level while feeding my drive to help children. I was able to help children learn how to read every day, which made me happy.

Breanna Judkins

Psychology and Physical Therapy ’20

During my time here at Clarke, I have involved myself in track and field and a couple of clubs including Benchwarmers, Psychology club, and Clarke Organization of Student Physical Therapists. Since coming to Clarke, I have been able to improve upon my track career, my schooling, and myself. In the three years I have been here, I have worked with six different coaches, each time having to adapt to different coaching styles. It was very difficult to stay motivated when going through so many coaches, yet I learned a lot from the situation. I finally realized that a coach did not define how I felt about track. I was the only person I could rely on to reach my goals. Once I learned to switch my motivation from a coach to myself, I became steadier in my thoughts and more confident in myself.

Hayley Einsweiler

Nursing ’19

“I have a passion for nursing and cannot wait to begin my profession as a lifelong nurse. I have grown as a person and strengthened my skills at Clarke. Clarke places an emphasis on critical thinking, and I became aware of this in my first week of college classes. Critical thinking is a lifelong learning skill that requires me to apply my knowledge, experience, and competence. My future job as a nurse will entail problem-solving, decision making, and clinical reasoning. Each of these duties will require me to think critically, and quickly, on the job. My time at Clarke University has encouraged me to think at a higher level. My spirituality has also been enhanced while at Clarke. My Humanities course, Faith and Doubt, challenged me to reflect not only on what I believe but why I believe in God.

I am the secretary of Clarke’s Association of Nursing Students (CANS). Our group organizes different events to give back to our community. For example, we host a spring bake sale, and the profits made from this event are donated to Camp Courageous, a camp that provides year-round recreational and respite care opportunities for individuals with special needs.

This semester, I participated in Clarke’s Into the Streets event. I went to Sinsinawa Mound, which is a Catholic Dominican Sisters home. The Mound offers retreats, conferences, and workshops. My volunteer hours were spent outside in a garden. I prepared the gardens so that the Sisters are able to plant when the time comes. I raked leaves, picked weeds, tilled the dirt. One sister worked alongside me. My time flew by as I chatted with her. I was thanked numerous times for my work and left the Mound feeling like I had made a difference.

My favorite memory from Clarke was traveling to the Dominican Republic last summer. The trip was called Nursing in the Dominican Republic. Over the week-long trip, I stepped out of my comfort zone and immersed myself in the Dominican culture. We stayed at a school in San Jose de Ocoa. We were provided with tour guides and translators, and our days were planned out for us on an itinerary. Each day was different. The first day we traveled to Los Martinez. The leader of the community spoke to us (in Spanish) about the people, their healthcare services, and the production of produce including their irrigation system. The people look after each other; they provide their produce to those in need within the community before selling it for a competitive price. They are self-sufficient, humble individuals who welcomed my classmates and me with open arms. In the following days, we toured the healthcare facilities in Ocoa. These settings included the clinic, hospital, rehabilitation center, and nursing home.

The Dominican people make the most of what they have. Everyone seemed to wear a smile. Touring the different healthcare services was eye-opening. I couldn’t help but compare their setting to what I was used to in the United States. For example, I am used to hospitalized patients assigned to a private room. Here, the hospital had large rooms of one bed after another. The adult female patients were put in one room while the males in another. We participated in a nurse exchange and had the opportunity to ask their nurses questions while they asked us questions in return. We also visited local schools. The children ran to us wanting hugs — what a special feeling that gave my heart! Our days were long and busy, but we were welcomed by everyone. I remember a healthcare professional at the hospital said, ‘This is your hospital too, you are welcome here.’ My trip was a life-changing experience. When I want to complain about something materialistic, I think back to my trip and how the people in the Dominican make do with what they have. I left the Dominican with an open heart and an open mind and learned that I need to disconnect to connect.”

Amanda Beeal

Elementary Education ’20

“Around the age of 5, I had my first panic attack in the middle of a shopping store. I will never forget the fear of not understanding what was going on in my body. From that moment on, things didn’t get easier; it was a constant battle of fighting against myself. What people would state was ‘anxiety’ stopped me from many things throughout my childhood.

I couldn’t be without my mom; I felt as though my mom was my security blanket and without her, something terrible would happen. This became a constant fight with myself as I was growing up; days would come to go eat with other family and I would feel my heart racing and start to scream because I couldn’t express in words how I was feeling. Even throughout elementary school, I would have panic attacks and teachers wouldn’t know what to do, so my only source was to cry to at least let some of what was happening out.

I lived with this same feeling throughout my high school career; however, I was tired of it. I was tired of letting the little girl inside of me stop me from living my life. When I started high school, college was never a thought of mine, but once I saw my friends applying to colleges, I took a drastic measure and looked into Clarke University. Clarke has been in my family for years, but no one really talked about it out loud; so, I applied all on my own.

I received my acceptance from Clarke and nothing at that moment made me happier. However, when the day before me leaving California to start a new life in Iowa came, my anxiety got the best of me. I didn’t want to leave, because this would be a huge jump from having my anxiety stop me for so many years to finally not letting my anxiety get the best of me. I experienced many loved ones tell me how I shouldn’t go away because I would come home shortly after. I was exhausted from letting things hold me back. The next day, I jumped on a plane to start a new adventure.

I made it through my first two years, — something I never thought I would do. However, as my junior year came around, times were hard; I felt the same way I did in that shopping store when I was five years old. My anxiety was getting the best of me. However, I can say I have been truly blessed to have a coach and education professor guide me to ask for help and talk to someone, something I should have done years ago. In November of 2018, I was diagnosed with anxiety.

Mental health is no joke. Growing up, I felt that no one understood me. When I would express myself to my friends, they all looked at me as if I was what one would say ‘crazy.’ However, coming to Clarke opened doors for me that I never thought I would open; with the help of both my coach and my education professor, I was finally able to stand up against my anxiety and not let it win over me.

Recently, I had the privilege of going with the education department to Eastern Kentucky to visit the David School. This opportunity continued to push me to grow from the challenges with my anxiety. I had professors push me to do things I would have never been able to do without their help. I listened to a student express her social anxiety to a large group of people and stated that her voice needed to be heard. This amazing experience helped me realize that my anxiety does not define who I am. I used to constantly let my anxiety take over me, but Clarke has given me experiences and opportunities to meet people who understand my anxiety and care enough to stand by my side through troubling times.

Before coming to Clarke, I would have never been able to talk about how I felt growing up. Because of the people I have met here, I feel I have finally found my place that makes me feel comfortable enough to be myself and not be ashamed of my mental health. I am tired of feeding the fire within, and I am proud of the person I have fought to be today.”

Johanna Escobar

History, Philosophy, & Pre-Law ’18

”I’m from Maryland, and I chose Clarke without ever even visiting the Midwest! I came to Clarke to play lacrosse and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. I was a history and philosophy double major with an emphasis in pre-law. I played on the Women’s Lacrosse Team, I mentored at Senior High school, I participated in meetings for Inclusive Dubuque, I was part of Phi Sigma Tau (Philosophy honor society), and I was part of the Education Policy Committee at school.

I have been through a lot to get to where I am today. I was born in El Salvador, and I came to this country when I was 11 years old. Coming to a new country with a different language and culture was not easy. Coming to a country that was not my home was also not easy, but I was determined to make the best out of the situation for my future. Yes, I actually thought about this at 11 years old. I knew I had to learn English, so I did. I knew I had to do well in school, so I did. I knew I had to go to college to achieve the goals I have set for myself, so I did. I have been able to succeed and do things my family has never had the chance to do. Going through the whole college experience beginning with applying to college was a challenge because I had to do it on my own. My family did not know how it worked, and even if my parents tried to help, they could only do so much since they know very little English. Therefore, I had to figure it all out by myself and somehow, with the grace of God, I was able to attend college. There have been and there are many more challenges and struggles in my story but I know that I will overcome each one of them.

Christian Perez

Piano Performance (Music) ’21

“When I was three years old, I was diagnosed with autism. The doctor that day had told my parents that I would be incapable of receiving God; I wouldn’t be able to hold a job; my entire life would need to be authorized and executed by my loved ones. In that way, my family and I were set up for failure.

Therapy started soon thereafter. During elementary school, supplemental speech and social skills classes were the most prevalent in my curriculum; however, I was also well-consolidated into the regular classroom schedule of my peers. My behavior, at times, was considered “improper” and “inappropriate,” but while my little self was flailing, kicking, and screaming, my mind was trying to communicate all of the emotions I was feeling at the same level of comprehension as my peers. I was incapable of this expression at that time and that made my academic career and my home life a struggle for those involved.

When I was in sixth grade, I attended a diabetes walk in support of my great friend Kyle. My mother took me aside from the commotion and sat me down on a dusty, wooden table. She explained to me that I was different and she revealed to me how. At that moment, I locked eyes with my mother and began to walk away. She beckoned for me to come back and I did as she said. I didn’t really want to go away — I only felt that if I walked far enough at that moment, maybe my autism wouldn’t be able to catch up. As I returned into her embrace, I recognized that she was not just holding my tiny frame – she was holding my autism, my feelings, and my fear.

Over the years, the symptoms of my autism began to wane. Though I remain conscious of what people may think of me, day by day I grow more convinced that this condition of mine doesn’t have to define me for the rest of my life. I started studying music theory and piano and joined the church band; I started writing my own music; I participated actively in orchestra, band, and jazz band; and I immersed myself in the world of sonic creation. Everything that I couldn’t communicate before — all of the raw feelings of hopelessness and struggle — could now be expressed in a way that everyone can hear. I consider my immersion in music the most important step in accepting myself, diagnosis and all.

At Clarke, I’ve been blessed to be able to continue learning about music through the brilliant minds of Amy, Sharon, and Amanda, as well as my wonderfully talented peers. Moments of weakness still occur, but I know that my incredible family, my awesome friends, my kind professors, and my God are there to catch me when I fall. Going to Clarke was one of the best decisions in my life because even when I’m away from home I still have the support I need to succeed.

In 2021, I plan to graduate as a piano performance major. I’m involved in Campus Ministry, the Peace Betterment and Justice club (PB&J!), and many events from Clarke’s Music department. In the future, I want to be able to spread the joy of life that God has given me through the medium of jazz. I also want to be able to advocate for the autism community by increasing awareness, participating in programs, and representing them within the local government. No matter where God places me, I want to be able to change the community for the better.”

Eric Jones

Social Work & Psychology ’19

“I was born when my mother was just 16 years old. At that time, my father was very involved with the street-life and was in a gang. He was doing things he shouldn’t be doing when he knew he had a son on the way. My father was incarcerated in 1997 and has been in jail 21 years this March. My mom has been working two jobs since age 16 because she had to grow up quickly and be the head of the household. It was very hard for both of us. I was never able to spend time with her because she was always working. And, now, our relationship is not as close as I’d like, simply because I am unable to see her because she is always working to provide for me. But, watching my mom work so hard these past 20 years has really made me want to excel and make her proud. This is why I work so hard in school, so I can make sure to provide for her as she did for me.

Life was never easy growing up. I have had a lot of challenges being me – this person who was not comfortable with my sexuality and did not mesh well with other African American kids. I always had better relationships with people who were of a different culture. As I got older, people would ask me: “Do you like girls or boys?” and I honestly didn’t know the answer. I became very involved in school activities. I didn’t want to be that person to not take advantage of all the opportunities offered. But, by keeping myself so busy, I didn’t have time to focus on myself and figure out who I was. I didn’t find myself until midway through high school.

When I came to Clarke, I was welcomed with open arms and people made me feel comfortable. During my first year, I came to the realization that it was time to come out and be accepting of the skin I am in now. I didn’t do it the best way – coming out to people. I should’ve done it in a way that didn’t create drama. I did it as everyone else did; I went on social media and posted about it. There was negativity, but I was surprised by how much support and love I received for being homosexual. Coming to college and actually making that decision to come out made me feel like a new person. Being at Clarke where homosexuality is accepted and the LGBTQ community is present has inspired me to be accepting of who I am.

I have also met a lot of great people and professors at Clarke. I have been really involved on campus in my past three years here, and when it comes time to graduate next year, I know I will have made my mark from all the leadership roles and volunteer work I have done. I know that when I leave Clarke, I will accomplish all of the goals that I have made for myself post-graduation. I plan on getting my master’s in social work and becoming a licensed clinical social worker. I want to go into a field where I can help people and make a difference. I want to make people’s lives better than the experience I had growing up. I want to help them with my own challenges and experiences.”

Franci Gates

Psychology/Spanish minor ’19

“I came to Clarke thinking that I was going to graduate as a physical therapist. This was not the case, however. I think most students who come to college have a general idea of what they want to do and think that idea is the only option. When I was halfway through my first semester at Clarke, I quickly realized that I didn’t want to pursue physical therapy. I felt like I was letting myself down. I went to Psychology Professor Tim Boffeli’s office and explained to him that I wanted to drop PT, and he helped me work through my options. When I later decided that I wanted to be a Speech Pathologist, I again went to Tim’s office, and together we came up with a plan in which I was able to graduate a year ahead of the typical four-year plan. With that said, I think the biggest change that I have experienced in myself since being at Clarke is figuring out who I am. I can now confidently tell people what I want to do with my life and why, and the best part is, it makes me excited for my future. With the help of my professors, family, and my friends that I gained from Clarke, I am a much stronger, more confident individual and it is all thanks to my experiences here.

After graduation, I plan on going back to my home state of Wisconsin and applying to UW-Whitewater’s graduate program for their Science of Communication Disorders program. My goal is to tie together what I learned at Clarke in terms of Psychology and be able to help the traumatic brain injured communicate again.

I’ve made so many memories at Clarke. I participated in Track & Field as a pole vaulter, and I danced on the Clarke University Dance Team. I am also a Clarke Ambassador which allows me to give tours of our campus to incoming families and students. One of my favorite memories from Clarke is when my friend, Daisy Lemus, and I were tired of studying on a Sunday night and decided at 3 a.m. to pile on winter clothes and go outside in a winter blizzard so that we could sled together. We had so much fun fighting the cold and sledding up and down the hills in front of Clarke that now we have plans to do it again this winter! All the spontaneous things that my friends and I have done over the past three years at Clarke have been amazing memories that I am very thankful for. Random car rides in the early hours of the morning, ordering pizzas together at night because we didn’t want to make food, staying up until the next morning doing homework and watching movies are all things that make the college experience what it is. I could not have had the experience I did at Clarke without the friends I’ve made.”

Juro Gacanich

Business, Marketing Management ’19

“I already knew I was coming to Clarke before the story I’m about to tell happened.

My sister attended Clarke before me. I was able to see her success throughout her four years and observe the sense of community in a small school environment. Clarke was an opportunity for me to move away from my home in New Mexico, play soccer, and earn my degree.

Three years ago, my dad passed away from cancer. At the time, my family and I were all preparing for my graduation from high school and my sister’s graduation from Clarke. We were trying to figure out a way to get everyone from New Mexico to Dubuque for my sister’s graduation. We planned on my dad being in good health, but he took a turn for the worse.

We decided he would attend my sister Mileva’s graduation at Clarke but not mine from my high school. Then my dad got worse. It became evident that he wouldn’t be able to travel from New Mexico to Clarke. He made it clear to Mileva and me, though, that no matter what happened, he wanted us to attend our graduations.

Clarke faculty and staff did an amazing thing. They arranged a personal graduation for Mileva and set up a live feed that my dad could watch while she received her diploma. Her “graduation” was held in the chapel, and while it wasn’t a surprise for Mileva, she had no idea that so many Clarke people were going to be there. She walked in and the whole church was packed with all her friends and faculty at Clarke.

The day we had to leave to come to Clarke for her actual graduation ceremony was the day my dad passed away. He was able to see both of us graduate, though, which was incredible.

Clarke went above and beyond for my family, and I feel like I am forever in their debt. Clarke touched not only my family but the people in my area and in my small town in New Mexico. Being able to see Clarke impacting areas outside of the state and in a completely different culture was amazing. A lot of people in my town have a connection to Dubuque and I have been able to see how Clarke’s outreach can affect a community. Through their good acts of helping my family, it helped my whole community and town as well.

I am happy that I am able to talk about this now as a story of coming together. I am forever grateful to Clarke for being able to do this for my dad.”

Grace Pawlowski

Music Education ’21

“I came out as transgender in my junior year of high school, but only to close friends. However, by the end of the year, the word got out and spread through the school, and I was bullied. During my senior year, I just focused on college and scholarships to keep my mind busy. I felt depressed. I was surviving but was not living. I wasn’t happy or living my life to the fullest.

I came to Clarke identifying as Grace already, but it was ‘under the radar’ because I didn’t openly come out here. Then, eventually, it was October, and I emailed all my professors and asked them to call me Grace and use certain pronouns. That is where it started on campus.

I found I couldn’t afford to live on campus, so I commuted for the first semester. I moved onto campus the second semester, and this was the time I started being myself. I changed my wardrobe and bought more gender-affirming clothing. And, I legally changed my name from Joey to Grace. Clarke has really helped me feel more accepted here on campus and feel like I have a home here.

Moving onto campus allowed me to make my life more congruent with how I feel on the inside. I was scared at first because Clarke is a Catholic school; but, when I came here, I learned Clarke is an opening and welcoming campus. Clarke made me feel accepted, which helped me to openly identify as Grace. Now I feel happier because I don’t have to hide anything, and I can go outside and not be judged. I can go somewhere in a full face of makeup and dressed up, or I can go to classes in a sweatshirt and sweats.”

Caitlyn Ambrosy

Elementary Education with Endorsements in Special Education and Reading ’18

“On a whim, I knew two things: I wasn’t happy where I was at with my old university, and I wanted to teach. So, I made the decision to move home to be closer to family and friends, took a semester off of school to re-evaluate, and was told by numerous people that Clarke was the school to go to for education. Their hands-on program has been the perfect fit for me, and the amount of experience that I will have in classrooms before graduation, thanks to the PDS blocks, has made me very confident in my teaching. Transferring to Clarke was the best decision that I have made with my college career.

In June 2017, Clarke gave me the opportunity to travel to Mount Kenya University and connect with their students, sit in on classes to compare/contrast our educational experience to theirs, tour the huge campus, and learn about their university. Clarke and MKU have an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with one another, and it was exciting to be with the first group of students from Clarke to visit MKU. We also visited Kinangop, the village where professor Mary Gitau grew up. While there, we established a library at the village primary school, donating and logging 487 books, painting, creating artwork for the walls, putting in benches and tables, and creating a new and exciting space for the school to use.

While at the school, we also interacted with teachers and students, along with community members who came to help us. The final academic thing we did was host a conference for rural Kenyan teachers. The conference was two days, and I presented on classroom motivation. It was the first educational conference that I have attended, so I was pretty lucky that I got to present at it. It was fun to talk to Kenyan teachers and see how their views and educational philosophies differed from mine. They were all knowledgeable and had something to offer me as a young professional. The trip ended with a three-day safari at Maasai Mara.

In reflection, I think that I had culture shock the entire time. While at MKU, I could not walk 10 feet without someone asking to take a picture with me because I was a “mzungu” (a white person), and they asked if they could stay with me when they come to visit Clarke. In the village, I was lucky enough to help with my host families’ daily tasks – milking the cows by hand and cooking dinner, etc. It was neat to see how they live, and that put in perspective all of the technology that we are lucky to have here. We spent every night in the living room at Mary’s mom’s house singing and dancing; in fact, we taught all of her family the cupid shuffle. We moved all the furniture in the living room and danced for what seemed like 50 times in a row.

On our last night in the village, we all made a great meal together by butchering a goat and making other African dishes such as rice, cabbage, and chapati. I learned that my host mom, Ann, learned English for almost a year just to be able to communicate with me when I arrived.

This trip was the most eye-opening experience I have ever had. I had done long-term travel before, but this was my first time being out of the country. It made me appreciate everything that I have so much more – it also made me resent myself a little bit for all of the things that I take for granted, such as my family, clean water, always having food on my table, a roof over my head, indoor plumbing, and the education that I am getting at Clarke. The term “it takes a village” comes to my mind and is a perfect way to describe the experience, the community and pride among the people, and the love that they shared for one another. Upon returning from my trip, I have tried to complain less and remember that almost everything that I have is a privilege because there are things that many people go without. I also try to remember that relationships with people around me are so important and a huge part of what will drive me to be happy and successful in my life.

I have a travel bug, and finding support from Clarke and my professors has made me want to pursue my interests in traveling even more. Education is my main passion, and Clarke has provided me my opportunities to mix travel and education; and, the fact that my professors have encouraged it helps me be more confident with it. Upon graduation, I hope to travel more and even possibly teach abroad, and Clarke has helped prepare me for that through their education program, support from professors, and travel experiences.”

Daisy Lemus

Nursing ’21

“I am a daughter of two immigrants who came from Mexico about 22 years ago. For as long as I can remember, I had to take on a big role because I am a first-generation United States citizen who became the translator for my family. My dad speaks English, but if he has to talk over the phone he gets nervous. So, I have to talk for him. It is worse for my mom because she can hardly speak English. This is tough for me. When I came to college, I gave the responsibility to my little sister while I am away.

But, it is also hard for her because I have always had this role of being in charge. In addition to that, my parents always were more comfortable with letting me translate. So, my parents still request my help today; they will call me and ask me to make appointments for my grandpa or figure out a billing issue. I feel like I was sheltered growing up because I had to care for my family and act as a role model for my siblings.

Whenever I have to call and make appointments for my grandpa, the hospital refuses to provide me with information because my mom is in charge of him, not me. But, when I try to relay this message to her, she just doesn’t understand. This is tough not only on me but also on her.

I have come to recognize that school is a privilege for me. I would not receive the education I obtained here in the United States if I was born in Mexico and grew up there. I do go to school for myself, but I also do it to give my parents a better life, a life they gave me. I have learned a lot from being a first-generation college student and having immigrant parents.

When you are a child of immigrants, you live in fear every day that one day they may be taken away and be gone forever. My mom has been here for 22 years, and she is just starting the application to have residency here in the United States. My parents have talked to me on numerous occasions that if something happened, they want me to stay in school. But, I couldn’t be comfortable staying here knowing my siblings are left alone. Even though my parents conveyed to me that my aunt could have custody of us, I would still feel the need to go home and take care of them.

This is not a topic I like to talk about with people because of what is going on in the United States currently. However, I agreed to share my story because I think immigration is an issue that deserves a continuous conversation. There have been serious remarks made about Hispanics lately. But, these accusations are just not true. My parents are good people. They raised their kids to go against the negative stigma that Hispanics are bad people. We, as in Hispanics and my family, are better than that.”