#RaidersStandOut
We’re Raider Nation. We lead and serve. We’re smart and strong. Courageous and faithful. We achieve—not for ourselves, but because excellence honors God and serves others.
Alex
Manager, PACU and Patient Center, Sanford Health
The 2020 Patricia Van Wyhe Nurse of the Year award recipient at Sanford Health Sioux Falls, Alex is known for an uplifting attitude and a calm, caring demeanor.
John
Dr. John Vonder Bruegge is known for his love of the New Testament and encourages experiences that allow for academic challenges and growth.
Alison
Psychology teacher, Washington High School
For her innovative instructional strategies, passion for teaching, and compassionate heart, Alison was selected as one of 40 national recipients of the prestigious Milken Educator Award in 2019–20.
Celina
Christian Education/Youth Ministry and Worship Arts
Even as she is learning about youth ministry and worship arts, Celina is getting practical experiences—serving as a mentor for high school students and as a member of the college's chapel worship team.
Tatum
Dr. Tatum Geerdes expresses her passion for nursing and for her students through her commitment to stewardship and student success.
Laura
M.D. and M.P.H. student, Rush University
Laura was a triple major at Northwestern who took advantage of cross-cultural experiences in Nebraska, Nicaragua and Ecuador. She is now pursuing a joint M.D. and master’s degree in public health with a goal of becoming a family medicine physician.
Josh
Computer science
Josh enjoys writing code and solving complex problems. What he loves most, though, are the relationships he has with his computer science professors and peers.
Natalie
Event designer, The Event Company
Natalie works with corporations and nonprofits from around the country, designing events to help them support their missions and reach their goals.
Michaela
Accounting
An accounting major with a minor in business administration, Michaela has been active in the Women in Leadership Club and the Business Club. She has already been hired to work for Plante Moran in Denver after graduation.
Fan
Dr. Fan Fei shows his passion for economics through his excitement in the classroom and the many economic research projects he’s completed.
Rachel
Child life specialist, Seattle Children's Hospital
Rachel uses her therapy skills and knowledge of child development to help kids cope with the stress of being hospitalized.
Emily
Dr. Emily Grace is passionate about her research on physics pedagogy, faith integration and physics hardware.
Victor
Language arts teacher, Akron-Westfield High School
At Northwestern, Victor felt professors treated him as more of a colleague than a student. He strives to do the same as he teaches a variety of English and writing courses.
James
Dr. James Mead thrives on Old Testament teachings and helping students understand, enjoy and learn from all parts of the Bible.
Ali
Art and genetics, molecular and cellular biology
A double major, Ali aspires to be a physician scientist, and he says studying art improves his skills as a scientist.
Allison
Elementary education
Allison says her Northwestern education prepared her to be and effective and equipped teacher.
Angela
Dr. Angela Holt directs Northwestern’s Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and wind ensembles, while also teaching instrumental music education.
Greg
President Greg Christy created new strategies and adopted a new mission, vision, diversity and Christian identity to help the college stand out.
Colin
History
Colin's lifelong love of history has led him to want to bring the past to life for students.
Whitney
Elementary education
An elementary education major, Whitney realizes that teaching involves more than knowing the curriculum. Just as important is letting students know they are loved, capable and worthy.
Dabby
Business administration
Originally from Nigeria, Dabby transferred to Northwestern after attending a community college in Los Angeles, California. He says Northwestern’s helpful staff made the transfer process go smoothly, and he’s been impressed with the friendly and welcoming professors.
Laird
Dr. Laird Edman involves students in research focused on the cognitive science of religion.
Sofia
Theatre
Sofia is grateful for how Northwestern's theatre department is preparing her not only for a career in performance, but also many other areas of theatre work.
Chris
Dr. Chris Nonhof builds relationships with students in and out of the classroom.
Tetta
Graduate student, Kent State University
Inspired by her NWC professors, Tetta aspires to be a professor of scenic design after earning her master’s degree.
Taylor
Biology-health professions
Taylor appreciates how Northwestern sets high academic standards that will prepare her well for medical school.
Kris
Kris Korver is passionate about helping his students and athletes become who God calls them to be.
Chris
Accountant, Ernst & Young
Chris had a job offer from Big Four accounting firm Ernst & Young before he even graduated. His interviewers were so impressed with him, they said they'd send their kids to NWC.
Krissa
Third grade teacher, Catlin Arts Magnet School
Krissa’s classroom passion for students and their learning earned her recognition as Rookie of the Year from the Omaha Education Association.
Alison
Medical student, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Alison's action-packed academic career was filled with opportunities to think critically about biology and chemistry, which has served her well as she transitions into life as a medical student.
Drew
Drew Schmidt is emphatic about his love of church, education and the arts, and he enjoys helping students follow their passions.
Hayden
Social work
Hayden hopes to serve as an advocate for people in need, aiming to improve their lives and circumstances.
Stephan
Physical education teacher and coach, Storm Lake Elementary
At Northwestern, Stephan found a connection to youth he didn't know he had. With the help of professors, he became a teacher and coach who shapes the next generation of students and athletes.
Meredith
Software engineering analyst, Accenture
Meredith's summer internship with Accenture gave her confidence in her decision to begin a full-time career there.
Sara
Dr. Sara Sybesma Tolsma and her students are researching which chemicals in plants stop or slow the growth of cancer cells—and how.
Martha
Martha Draayer leads the college’s bridge-building efforts with the local Hispanic community by strengthening church, school and family relations.
Michael
Dr. Michael Kugler is known for making history come alive.
Emma
Medical student, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
Emma is a medical student at USD, where she received the prestigious South Dakota State Medical Association Foundation Freshman Scholarship.
Greta
Greta Grond enjoys working with students on their research projects and seeing the results of their hard work.
Kendall
Kendall Stanislav helps connect students with internship and study abroad opportunities, and assists them through the job search process.
Steven
Biophysics, chemistry and mathematics
Steven is majoring in biophysics because it will prepare him well for the MCAT and be a positive addition to his medical school application.
Brianna
Consultant, Communications Strategy Group
Brianna found her niche through the many “real-world” experiences Northwestern's public relations program offers.
Rahn
Dr. Rahn Franklin seeks to provide a community at Northwestern College that embodies what it means to love God and our neighbor as ourselves.
Jadeyn
Public relations
Jadeyn hopes to work in event planning and fundraising, with her sights set on one day starting a nonprofit to assist people who have been rescued from human trafficking.
Reid
Business administration
When he was unable to wrestle for the Raiders his sophomore year due to an injury, Reid took advantage of the opportunity to study in the college’s Romania Semester.
Olivia
Volunteer Coordinator, Nicaraguan Council of Protestant Churches
Olivia has a passion for missions. At Northwestern, she was supported, encouraged and equipped to pursue that dream and follow God’s call to Nicaragua.
Chris
Criminal justice
After visiting and comparing NWC to other colleges, he realized it felt more like home. In addition to majoring in criminal justice, Chris is a defender on the Raider soccer team.
Randy
Randy Van Peursem offers students the science support they need to succeed and models the encouragement and love of Christ.
Elizabeth
Dr. Heeg not only challenges her students in the classroom, but she provides them with many hands-on experiences off campus as well.
Sara
Exercise physiologist, Duke University Health and Fitness Center
Sara scored an internship with Duke University during her senior year at Northwestern, which led to a full-time job offer at a clinically based fitness center through the university's health system.
Jennifer
Dr. Jennifer Feenstra involves students in her research on volunteerism and service-learning.
Jerel
Assistant family teacher, Boys Town
Jerel works with at-risk children and families, providing them with the support and education they need to succeed.
Josh
Sport management
Josh's internship with an NBA affiliate team launched his career in sports marketing.
Corrie
Theatre and business administration
Corrie combined her love for theatre and business administration through her internship with Omaha Performing Arts.
Mike
Dr. Mike Wallinga followed his passions from college to become a professor who continually seeks new ways to challenge his students.
Tyler
Director of basketball sport performance, East Tennessee State University
As a student volunteer, Tyler designed training programs for the Raider men’s basketball team. His experience and skills led to work with the University of Texas Longhorns and East Tennessee State University.
Courtney
Education
Courtney describes her student teaching experience as "life-changing."
Kyle
Kyle Ochsner develops and oversees the strength and conditioning programs for many of Northwestern’s athletic teams.
Jacob
Nursing
Jacob became interested in health care at a young age, as both his mother and grandmother were nurses. Through their examples, he realized that he, too, enjoys helping people be physically, mentally and spiritually healthy.
Kirsten
Kirsten Brue encourages students to gain experience in their chosen career field.
Jordan
Entomology graduate student, University of Nebraska
Jordan is combining two passions—insects and the outdoors—as he pursues a doctoral degree.
Noah
Political science and history
Noah chose political science because he wants to facilitate a political system that cares about others as much as Jesus commands and abides by the ethic of loving others as yourself.
Eric
Eric Anderson uses his combination of financial knowledge and care for students to help families find strategies to make Northwestern affordable.
Rebeca
Interpreter/translator, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center
Rebeca serves Spanish-speaking patients and their families, helping them communicate with the medical providers at Omaha Children’s Hospital so they receive the best healthcare possible.
Lydia
Spanish and social work
Lydia's Spanish major is preparing her to understand the clients she will serve as a social worker.
Piet
Piet Koene has elite certification and experience as a courtroom interpreter.
Isaiah
Communications manager, Taproot Theatre
Theatre major Isaiah added an arts administration minor and interned at Taproot Theatre in Seattle, which set the stage for his job in communications and promotions for Taproot.
Emily
Psychology and public relations
Emily utilized her psychology major and public relations minor during an internship with the American Medical Association in Chicago.
Jonathan
Business administration and psychology
Jonathan came to Northwestern from California and joined the Honors Program partway through his college career to increase his learning and competitive advantage for eventual employment or graduate school.
Andrew
Freelance music producer, SoundReserve
Andrew founded a music production company in Nashville, Tennessee, after graduating from Northwestern. In addition to composing and producing music, he also plays keyboard for a classic rock band that performs onboard Holland America cruise ships.
Sarah
Oncology nurse, University of Iowa Hospital
As an oncology nurse, Sarah cares for patients' emotional and spiritual health as well as their physical needs.
Rik
Head wrestling coach Rik Dahl enjoys building relationships with students, extending grace, and encouraging them through life.
Kitrick
Math and computer science
Kitrick chose math because it's a language of patterns that gives meaning to abstractions. It's a discipline where there are always solutions to problems. "Math is powerful," he says, "and that's why I love studying it."
Courtney
First-grade teacher
As a freshman at Northwestern, Courtney was already spending time in school classrooms as part of her education classes, which helped confirm her desire to become a teacher and coach.
Josh
Membership services executive, Denver Nuggets
Josh turned his love for sports into a career.
Libby
Worship arts
Libby found that worship arts combines all of her passions: music, theology and theatre.
Sammy
Biology–health professions
Sammy uses the Peer Learning Center herself. She loves the satisfaction that comes when someone leaves a tutoring session confident in their knowledge or homework.
Noah
Biology–health professions, chemistry and mathematics
Noah's future career as a physician will combine his fascination with the intricacies of the human body with his desire to help people.
Osiris
Counseling and art therapy graduate student, Adler University
Through the encouragement of her professors, Osiris found that her passion for psychology and art can lead to an interesting, interdisciplinary career.
Alex
Veterinary student, Iowa State University
With the help of Northwestern's science professors, Alex is on her way to her dream career as a veterinarian.
Kim
Dr. Kim Jongerius sees math as both art and language and encourages students to communicate mathematics effectively.
Perkins
Biology–health professions
Perkins' internship with an animal health company combined his business and biology knowledge.
Alison
Biology-health professions and chemistry
Alison spent a semester studying how to improve the quality of care for hospitalized patients.
Barb
Dr. Barb Dewald is passionate about providing multiple opportunities for students to grow in their relationship with Christ.
David
Dr. David Arnett sees God through nature, science and loving action—all of which have added to his understanding of what it means to live a Christian life.
Shelby
Biology-health professions
An aspiring physician assistant, Shelby's internship in a research lab will strengthen her application for graduate school.
James
Graduate student in mathematics, University of South Dakota
With a love of theatre, music and philosophy, James found that Northwestern’s humanities major enabled him to learn anything and everything about anything and everything.
Sally
Dr. Sally Oakes Edman helps students work through problems, find healing and wholeness, and eliminate obstacles to healthy functioning.
Brody
Executive director, Atlas: Lincoln
Taking what he’d learned about the impact of listening to peoples’ stories, Brody pursued a career focused on community development.
Anna
Public relations and marketing
Anna says her Northwestern classes "perfectly aligned" with the skills required for her internship.
Connor
Law student, University of Minnesota
Connor’s Northwestern education led to a verdict of “accepted” at six law schools.
Devin
RN, post-surgical unit, Mayo Clinic
Devin works with some of the world’s best surgeons and teams at the Mayo Clinic.
Abigail
Graduate student, Embry-Riddle University
Abigail is pursuing a master’s degree in security and intelligence studies as preparation for a career in counterterrorism.
Zach
DNA specialist, Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Zach completed a master’s degree at Michigan State University and has now begun a career in forensic science.
Sadikshya
Accounting
Sadikshya's internship with a large nonprofit organization allowed her to assist with a variety of accounting procedures.
Joseph
Genetics graduate student, North Carolina State University
Joseph says Northwestern's integration of science and faith deepened his faith while in college. It also prepared him for graduate study in genetics and stoked his interest in a career as a research scientist.
Collin
Police officer, Urbandale Police Department
Collin's Northwestern education, paired with an internship with the Urbandale, Iowa, Police Department, launched his career in law enforcement.
Schuyler
English teaching
Schuyler says the opportunities she's had to tutor and serve as an English teaching assistant are preparing her for her own classroom.
Shanell
Security administrator, U.S. State Department
Shanell's semester in Washington, D.C., and internship with the U.S. State Department led to a capital job offer.
Ali
Social media coordinator, Lutheran Church of Hope
Ali has always had an eye for design, and with a little encouragement from Northwestern’s art professors and Career Development Center, she chose to pursue her creative passions as a career.
Shanell
Political science and criminal justice
Shanell's internship with the U.S. State Department led to a capital job offer.
Evan
Staff accountant, Gronewold, Bell, Kyhnn & Co.
Evan's success on the golf course parlayed itself into a job as an accountant in his hometown.
Jonathan
Applications programmer, Interstates Control Systems Inc.
Jonathan employs his computer science skills to help build control systems for a wide variety of industrial facilities, designing and building interfaces for operators to use in their businesses.
Abigail
Chemistry
Northwestern science and lab courses proved beneficial for Abigail during her internship in a quality control lab.
Cole
Exercise science
Cole gained valuable hands-on coaching experience through his internship with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's strength and conditioning team.
Adebola
Public relations
Passionate about community and communications, Adebola put her public relations skills to use with Orange City Arts.
Rebekah
Psychology
An aspiring occupational therapist, Rebekah’s compassion and skillset led her to an internship with L’Arche Chicago.
Kendra
Public relations
Passionate about communications and history, Kendra brought the two together during her internship at The Durham Museum.
Carter
Economics and business administration–finance
Carter put his business skills to practice during a California internship.
Lauren
Art/graphic design
Lauren channeled her creativity during an internship with an advertising and marketing agency.
Landon
Computer science and history
Northwestern’s size and sense of community led Landon here, but it's the faculty and learning opportunities that continue to impress him as a student. Right now, Landon is considering grad school to become a history professor.
Kessandra
Exercise science
Kessandra describes her internship with the United Fighting Championship Performance Institute in Las Vegas as "the dream."
Tyler
Accounting
Tyler says he gained valuable experience in business through his internship with Battery Systems Inc.
Steven
Graduate student, Princeton Seminary
A Christian and a scholar. That’s the label Steven is aiming for, so he’s building on the strong start he got at Northwestern as a divinity student at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Tyler
Political science and history
Tyler says his internship with the City of Chicago Department of Law affirmed his aspirations of being a lawyer.
Blake
Sport management
Blake's sport management internship work ranged from marketing events to working with athletes and adaptive sports.
Joey
Business administration-finance
Joey advanced his business skills through an internship with a well-known insurance and finance company.
Connor
Public relations
Connor utilized his public relations skills in his work with an agency that specializes in professional sports.
Diviya
Business administration–marketing
Diviya's internship with an indoor outlet mall offered her the opportunity to work on several marketing projects.
Taylor
Assistant director, Joy House
Taylor landed her dream job right after college when she began working at the Joy House, a housing program for women and children escaping domestic violence.
Brett
Business administration–agricultural business
Brett's internship at a bank gave him hands-on experience in working with agricultural loans.
Kasandra
Social work and theatre
Kasandra says she grew professionally and personally through her internship with a transitional housing program in Denver.
Noah
Business administration-finance
Noah credits Northwestern for preparing him well for his internship with a financial services company.
Jenna
Attorney, Brown Immigration Law
Jenna discovered her passion for social justice during her Spanish classes at Northwestern. Now her career is focused on immigration law.
Joel
Music and secondary education
If a Northwestern College music ensemble is playing, there’s a good chance Joel is part of it. A music and secondary education major, he plans to become a high school band director after graduation.
Samantha
Biology-health professions
When looking at career options, Samantha discovered her love for math and science align with the skills needed for biomedical engineering.
Erica
Sport management and accounting
Erica found she could pursue her passion for athletics through Northwestern’s sport management major.
Wilfredo
Political science
Wilfredo decided to major in political science because he wants to learn how he can help the political situation of his country of Honduras.
Hannah
Psychology and biology-health professions
Passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, Hannah aspires to be a forensic psychiatrist.
Laura
Graduate student, Western Theological Seminary
A student student in Western Theological Seminary’s Master of Divinity program, Laura hopes to continue ministering to families in the church, just as she did during and after college.
Vito
Minor league athletic trainer, San Francisco Giants
A former football player, Vito is pursuing his passion for sports as an athletic trainer, treating injured athletes and getting them back on the field.
Valerie
Dr. Valerie Stokes provides students with a safe, encouraging environment in which she shares real-life examples from her own therapeutic practice.
