Class of 2020
Members of the Class of 2020 are ready to take Northwestern’s mission of courageous and faithful participation in God’s redeeming work into the world. We asked some of our standout students about their Raider Nation experience—what they learned, what they loved about it, and how they hope to lead lives of significance after college.
Adebola Adeyemo
Lagos, Nigeria
Faith Anderson
Bellflower, California
Riley Bennett
Valley Springs, South Dakota
Natalie Blackman
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Alexa Boursiquot
Jacmel, Haiti
Heather Bruno
Ankeny, Iowa
Stedmon Bryant
Corona, California
Cassidy Bultena
Webster City, Iowa
Geena Colbert
Spencer, Iowa
Katrina Engebretson
Le Mars, Iowa
Koriene Gallagher
Sioux Center, Iowa
Melissa Goodenbour
Bettendorf, Iowa
Stefanie Gross
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Breanna Harthoorn
Norfolk, Nebraska
Corrie Hayes
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Benjamin Heinen
Des Moines, Iowa
Kaylee Henn
Sioux City, Iowa
Katie Herther
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sophia Holt
Omaha, Nebraska
Tyler Horkey
Spencer, Iowa
Lizzy Johnston
Story City, Iowa
Karmen Keltner
Anamosa, Iowa
Anselmo Kim
New Malden, United Kingdom
Bradley Laackman
Doon, Iowa
Carol Li
Diamond Bar, California
Alexander Lowry
Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
Sonya Masters
Mapleton, Iowa
Colin McDowell
Poulsbo, Washington
Nicole Metcalf
Moville, Iowa
Sarah Meyer
Otley, Iowa
Kari Mueller
Spirit Lake, Iowa
Tearrany Nelson
Worthington, Minnesota
Ann Pater
Pipestone, Minnesota
Gina Paulsen
Paullina, Iowa
Allyson Pettit
Andover, Minnesota
Suresh Portillo
Vallejo, California
Sean Powell
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Julie Renfro
Mediapolis, Iowa
Grant Rohrer
Slayton, Minnesota
Trevor Rozeboom
Rock Rapids, Iowa
Lucas Sander
Newton, Iowa
Breana Schuiteman
Orange City, Iowa
Marcie Sienknecht
Gladbrook, Iowa
Kate Staab
Lincoln, Nebraska
Jori Steenhoek
Grundy Center, Iowa
MaKayla Tjernagel
Spain
Devin Vander Werff
Urbandale, Iowa
Emma Van Drie
Minooka, Illinois
Mitchell Van Kalsbeek
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Dana Van Ostrand
Lincoln, Nebraska
Elison Wagner
Columbus, Nebraska
Graham Zomermaand
Sioux Center, Iowa
Carol LiDiamond Bar, California
Major: Nursing
How would you describe your experience at Northwestern?
Life-changing. Unforgettable. I made lifelong friendships and learned so much about myself and what I am passionate about. Because I'm from a different part of the country, I experienced many firsts during my time at Northwestern: My first snowstorm, my first time slipping and falling on ice—and learning that dinner actually means lunch in the Midwest. It was all definitely a challenging adjustment. My college experience wasn't anything I imagined it would be, but I wouldn't change it for the world!
How have you changed or grown since coming to Northwestern?
When I started the nursing program, I didn't know if I would actually go through with it. I was second-guessing my decision to pursue a career that I had never initially considered. It also sometimes felt like I had no place within my cohort because I’m different. However, Northwestern's nursing faculty and staff have taught me that each person's differences are what makes us so special, and we should celebrate those differences. Over the past four years, I've found my place here at Northwestern, and I've also discovered what I want to spend the rest of my life doing.
What’s next?
After graduation (and passing the N-CLEX), I will move to Rochester, Minnesota, where I will work for the Mayo Clinic as a nurse in their neurology and family medicine unit.
