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
Sarah MeyerOtley, Iowa
Major: Biology
How would you describe your experience at Northwestern?
Northwestern provided numerous opportunities that have prepared me for my career as a biology teacher. Because of the small student-to-faculty ratio, I quickly became close to my professors. I was a teaching assistant for three years for the chair of the biology department, Dr. Laurie Furlong. That experience enabled me to develop skills that will be useful in my calling as a teacher. I will always cherish my time at NWC with Dr. Furlong, and I pray current and future Northwestern students will have a similar, life-changing experience with a faculty member.
How have you changed or grown since coming to Northwestern?
My time at NWC has been one of obvious growth. As a senior about to graduate, I’m not the same person I was at the beginning of my freshman year. I came in to NWC a complete perfectionist who was terrified of failure. I had a lot of anxiety, and I was dependent on others for approval. Now I am more confident in my God-given abilities and rely less upon the opinion of others. I am more independent, willing to take risks, and maybe even look a little foolish once in a while. Thank you, Northwestern, for helping me grow into the Christ-centered young woman I am today!
What’s next?
I will be teaching biology at Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City. I will likely also begin a master’s degree program in biology with an emphasis in education.
