Pipers In-Depth (May 2016)

2016 Associated Collegiate Press Award Winning Publication

ine l g n i oth l C a ne, es i t l a r m e a p tH a He O s e i stud ’s e h & he s

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Jo l e u n ma

FLIP This Issue

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Ashe Jaafaru Stars in InTiMate Apparel

duate Anna Semanko will gra her PhD a year early to pursue th of after mourning the dea her father

Monica Lannon Leads LAX Squad in Inaugural Season (Flip to p. 26)

(3)

Former Saint Paul Mayor Jim Scheibel (14)

s to l e d o M t Studen 7) . p ( n o i t pay tui Chip Taylor to Coach Hamline Football (20)

About the Managing Editor

Table of Contents In This Issue

Johannah Kneen:

She excels both on and off Hamline campus as she sets her sights on broadcast journalism.

Cloe Gray, Pipers In-Depth Managing Editor (2015-16)

Cloe Gray is the Managing Editor of Pipers In-Depth. She has experience as an editorial intern for the Minnesota Business Magazine and has always had a passion for writing. Two of Gray’s articles in the debut issue of Originally from Colombia, he has Pipers In-Depth were honored at made the Twin Cities his home the 2015 Society of Professional away from home by staying Journalists Region 6 Mark of Excellence Awards this past busy with tennis and using April. Gray won the category art as a social justice tool. of In-Depth Reporting (Small) with her article “Dedication to diversity: Carlos Sneed’s impact at Hamline” and was named a finalist in the same category for her story “Advocating for change: The power of one student’s work.” She was also named a finalist in Feature Photography (Small) for her portrait of Kayla Farhang. Gray has enjoyed having the opportunity to share The longtime duo who brought HU stories of Hamline community members and looks forward to hockey a MIAC Championship are professional hockey teammates. future issues of Pipers In-Depth.

Gabe Guarin:

Adams & Zurn:

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Pipers In-Depth © 2016

Choreographing her future: Tottiana Duffy’s journey to Hamline

Pg. 3

Immanuel Jones Q&A, a scholar and an entreprenuer

Pg. 6

Legacy student’s modeling career takes off

Pg. 7

Lamar Shingles: Building a legacy for Hamline recreation

Pg. 10

Changing the way people look at invisible illnesses

Pg. 12

Following her heart: Anna Semanko’s story of courage and strength

Pg. 14

Gabriel Guarin leads by example on the court and in the studio

Pg. 16

Taking care of one athlete at a time

Pg. 19

Piper hockey duo succeed as lifetime teammates

Pg. 22

Flip Issue Using stage for social change Pg. 3 Cindy Chooraman: Helping in anyway she can Pg. 6 Hamline’s Archvist Candy Hart: Preserving Hamline’s history Pg. 8 Providing a voice for those in need Pg. 11 Learning by doing; an emphasis in Jim Scheibel’s teaching Pg. 14 Striving to be great, the story of an original ‘P.K.’ Pg. 16 Mary Boles leading by example: An award-winning student worker Pg. 18 Chip Taylor to coach Hamline’s finest Pg. 20 All eyes on Taylor Roberson: Leading the pack Pg. 23 Piper lacrosse ladies look to build legacy Pg. 26

Choreographing her future: Tottiana Duffy’s journey to Hamline

By Cloe Gray *Minnesota News Association Award Winning Story

Photography courtesy of Tottiana Duffy

Between her involvement in student organizations on campus, mentoring youth, teaching hip-hop and having a full course load, sophomore student Tottiana Duffy stays busy as an active member in the community.

Her experiences have motivated her to make a difference.

Duffy grew up in Lakeville, Minnesota until she was 10-yearsold when she moved to the “rough side” of Chicago with her mother and younger brother, Timothy. Duffy came from a “predominately white community,” which was very different from her neighborhood in Chicago.

She remembered being picked on at school when she first transferred because she “spoke properly” and girls at her school thought she was “uppity.”

While the transition to Chicago was difficult at first for Duffy, she eventually found her place in her new home.

Five years later when Duffy was 15, she along with her mother and brother moved back to Minnesota.

She describes the decision to move back to Minnesota as “spontaneous.”

Their first night back in Minnesota was spent in a shelter. The first shelter they went to turned them away as it was filled for the night.

The second shelter was also full but let Duffy and her family stay in a small room that resembled a closet and had a marble floor. Duffy remembered having to sleep on a thin mattress pad.

During her transition back to Minnesota, Duffy’s mother became very ill. Duffy remembered having to read road signs for her mother on their drive from Chicago to Minnesota because her mother’s vision was so poor.

After going to the hospital, Duffy’s mother was diagnosed with diabetes. Duffy remembered doctors being shocked at “how bad” her mother’s blood sugar was.

This was a turning point for Duffy and her family. After the hospital visit, her mother felt “rejuvenated.”

“We weren’t at a good spot financially 3

and this was a new motivation to live a better life,” Duffy said.

Her family moved into an apartment in Apple Valley, Minnesota where they currently live now.

Duffy attended high school at Eastview in Apple Valley.

She became very involved in extracurricular activities such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the speech team, the step team, student government and choir.

“I had to rebuild myself in a new environment,” Duffy said. “I didn’t have anybody.”

Duffy’s involvement in the community didn’t stop in high school. She has become an active and involved member during her time at Hamline.

Duffy is the current vice president for PRIDE Black Student Alliance on Hamline’s campus.

“The org. holds people of color in high regards,” Duffy said.

She also described PRIDE as an organization that “makes decisions together.”

In her role as vice president, Duffy attends executive board meetings, helps plan general body meetings and contributes to conversations about “current situations, racial issues and social justice issues.”

“I’ve learned a lot about diversity and social justice issues and have learned a lot about the black community through being in the org.,” Duffy said.

“I continue to learn every day.”

She said current events happening in the community have impacted the organization “pretty roughly.” Pride created a “Healing Circle” event last December in response to community issues.

The Healing Circle allows students to come learn about what has happened in the community.

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Photography courtesy of Tottiana Duffy

“[It] provides a space where students can speak out no matter what background or standpoint they have,” Duffy said.

“Our org. really cares about the campus and the community.”

PRIDE hosts events to connect with the community including some such as Black History Month events, Kwanzaa Night and Gospel Night.

This year, Duffy was in charge of the Gospel Night event where community Gospel choirs and solo artists performed at Sundin Music Hall.

Hamline’s Gospel Choir also performed during the event.

Co-President of Pride Amin Amos said Duffy did a “great job in planning Gospel Night.”

“People trust her to do good work,” Amos said.

Amos explained how leadership positions are elected by the general body at the end of the year.

Duffy’s involvement and leadership skills in the organization were factors in the election process.

“She’s a leader, not a follower,” Amos said.

“Also, I wish she would teach me how to dance.”

As last fall’s Annual Lip Sync Competition winner, Duffy is known for choreographing the dance moves for the winning performance.

Duffy’s group called themselves the “Lil Mamas.”

The Lil Mamas lip sang

Tottiana Duffy (photo by Gino Terrell). to

‘Lip Gloss’ by Lil Mama.

Duffy said she had a lot of fun and was shocked her group won.

She plans to participate in the Lip Sync competition next year.

Along with choreographing the winning performance at the Lip Sync Competition, Duffy also teaches hip hop dance at Turning Pointe Dance Studio in Eagan.

“I just love to teach,” Duffy said.

Duffy also teaches hip hop dance at Black Hawk Middle School where she mentors students.

“A lot of what I do is for youth,” Duffy said.

“Some youth don’t have anyone to look up to.”

Duffy said she uses arts to communicate and network with young African American girls.

Last November Duffy had a sleepover with a few girls she mentors. At the sleepover Duffy did the girls’ hair, they danced all night and she created a “space where the girls could reach out.”

“Sometimes you need a mentor,” Duffy said.

Duffy sees herself mentoring throughout her life. One of her goals is to go on a mission trip, which is something she has always

wanted to do. She would like to “reach out around the world.”

While she would like to go on a mission trip outside of the United States, she would also like to go on mission trips inside of the United States too.

“There are places in the U.S. that are struggling,” Duffy said.

Other goals for Duffy include attending law school and becoming a family lawyer. She wants to “help juveniles and families in need that struggle financially.”

“I know what it’s like to struggle,” Duffy said.

Lisa Nordeen, director of academic success at Hamline and a mentor of Duffy’s, describes Duffy as a student with “great passion and curiosity.”

Nordeen was also Duffy’s First-Year Seminar instructor.

“She likes to be challenged and challenges back,” Nordeen said.

Nordeen said Duffy’s “commitment to engaging with the community” is one reason why Duffy is a great fit at Hamline.

“She is the epitome of what it means to be a Hamline Student,” Nordeen said.

“She is active in student organizations yet has the desire to make a difference in the classroom as well.”

Originally, Duffy had planned to attend North Central Bible School in St. Paul for college. She was affiliated with North Central Bible School through her church and church camps she attended.

She wanted to go there because she would be “surrounded by students on a similar path with similar views.”

Coming to Hamline was a last minute decision for Duffy. Duffy said she wanted to be at a school that was “more diverse” but still allowed her to “keep her faith.” She also thought Hamline would have more opportunities for her to pursue hip-hop dancing.

Duffy said her mother has always encouraged and supported her in everything she does. She said she and her mother have a very close bond.

Duffy’s mother raised Duffy and Duffy’s brother by herself. Duffy’s father was sentenced to 15 years in prison when Duffy was younger.

“My mother never let us have animosity towards my father,” Duffy said. “I want what’s best for him.”

She is still able to see her father and said she is excited to see where he is going to go when he gets out.

“I wanted him to be able to see me dance and see my speech meets and graduate high school,” Duffy said.

“Even though he wasn’t able to see those things, I know he’ll be there for the bigger things like my college graduation.”

Duffy is staying focused on her community involvement and academic success during her time at Hamline.

Her experiences before coming to Hamline have shaped who she is today and who she would like to become.

She said she is always “trying to grow and be prepared” for her future.

“I would like to gain as much knowledge as I can while I’m at Hamline,” Duffy said.

“I want to expand my horizons and see how I can impact people.”

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Immanuel Jones Q&A, a scholar and an entreprenuer

Pipers In-Depth: “What brought you to Hamline University?”

Immanuel Jones: “More opportunities to develop in a business program. [Also,] more diverse.”

Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota Immanuel Jones Pipers In-Depth: “Immanuel, you grew up with values of getting have continued to give back even involved in the community. after your first business venture by At the age of 16 he formed serving as a keynote speaker and an Eco City Minnesota, an ambassador to high school students in urban farm that fed over summer programs at the University of 100 people and received a Minnesota-Twin Cities. Growing up proclamation from former was community involvement always Mayor of Minneapolis R.T. important to you?”

Rybak. Now in college, he Jones: “It was the cornerstone of operates his own clothing everything to be honest.” line Hidden Valley Culture.

Jones transferred to Hamline Pipers In-Depth: “What was your first University this past fall. business venture?”

Jones: “Eco-City.”

Pipers In-Depth: “Is it true you operate your own clothing line?”

Jones: “Yes, I’ve got the best team around me. I have some heavy hitters.”

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Pipers In-Depth: “Who plays you in a movie?

Jones: “Unrecognized artist. Maybe some guy flying in a car and I’m like ‘hey, he kind of looks like me.’”

Pipers In-Depth: “What are words you live by?”

Jones: “I take days on a day-to-day basis.”

Pipers In-Depth: “Minneapolis Community Activist and the Founder and Leader of Project Sweetie Pie, Michael Chaney, once referred to you as an ‘urban farm superhero.’ What does that mean to you?”

Jones: “It’s humbling to be recognized from an African American activist, [very successful]. To be recognized on that level, it’s a very humbling feeling.”

Pipers In-Depth: “What are three words you’d use to describe yourself?”

Jones: “Integrity, blunt...awkward.

Awkward because I’m in a different place and you know some people try to find out who they are [but] I’m the same person [in] a different place.

Blunt because I have to be honest with every part of my life. Integrity, that has to be the forerunner to all things.”

Pipers In-Depth: “Before you enrolled here at Hamline you were enrolled at Minnesota State University Moorhead and Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC). What were some leadership positions you held at MCTC?” Jones: “SAAB, Sergeant of Arms, Leadership Personal Development, Director of Sustainability. Pretty much everything except Legislative Chair. [I was even] President.”

“One of the things I learned is that normality is not of the group it is of the individual.”

Pipers In-Depth: “Are you related to anyone famous?”

Jones: “My cousin is Donald Driver.”

Photography Gino Terrell

Pipers In-Depth: “Where can consumers find your clothing line Hidden Valley Culture?”

Jones: “Online Exclusively.”

Legacy student’s modeling career takes off

By Paul Patane

“One of the very first jobs I ever got was a Paul Mitchell hair show. I showed up and I got there like two hours early for this casting because I was so nervous. It was at Mystic Lake Casino...I was just walking around [with a] deer in the headlights look on my face, I was so nervous. I told myself ‘no one has to know that you’re new’ and ‘no one has to know you literally don’t know what you’re doing, but we’re going to go out there and do our best’ and I actually ended up getting picked for it.”

—Johannah Kneen

Photography courtesy of Johannah Kneen

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What does an undergraduate do when she needs money to pay her tuition? When you’re junior Johannah Kneen, the answer is get in front of a camera and strike a pose.

A Methodist legacy student with deep ties to the Hamline community through her father’s side of the family—it was a nobrainer for Johannah to commit to the school having determined the university’s social justice policy is aligned with her beliefs.

Junior Haleigh Gulden, one of Johannah’s best friends and roommates, views Hamline as being the optimal fit for Johannah.

“Hamline is a good fit for Johannah because Hamline’s values and Johannah’s values align. If she was at a school where the values did not flow as well, that would be something that would be another hurdle she would have to overcome,” Gulden said.

Majoring in communication studies with a minor in religion and sociology, Johannah enjoys being on a campus that’s been home to many family members while also making her feel comfortable.

“I’ve had a ton of family members come to Hamline. My great grandfather was actually the pastor of the Hamline United Methodist Church. I’ve had aunts, uncles, cousins—a bunch of people come through Hamline,” Johannah said.

Sue Kneen, Johannah’s mother, has noticed Johannah’s college experience has agreed with her.

“It’s been a broadening experience.

She comes back [home] just lit up talking about her classes,” Sue said.

Despite being away from home for college, Johannah and her family share a close bond. Johannah’s parents do the little things like making sure Johannah has transportation to her various jobs and going to their daughter’s shows, when possible.

Things have moved at a fast and 8

furious pace for Johannah. Just over a year ago, during her sophomore year, she needed some extra money to help cover her mounting bills. With some encouragement, Johannah gave modeling a try and never looked back. “[Modeling] started out as a way to pay bills at Hamline. She’s had people approach her and now it has just sort of taken off,” Sue said, regarding Johannah’s quick ascent.

Johannah hopes that modeling can eventually lead to broadcast journalism opportunities as she enjoys interacting with people.

“I want to go into broadcast

journalism. I want to be a news reporter someday down the road,” Johannah said. “I’ve had to prioritize school comes first—so school, my academic career and then modeling career comes second.”

Gulden agrees Johannah’s thriving modeling career can help lead her into broadcast journalism as she continues to be a student and gain working experience.

“I can see her continuing with modeling and I can also see it being her ‘in’ into broadcast journalism. It also allows her to grow her skills that she will need in

Photography courtesy of Steven Bickford broadcast journalism,” Gulden said.

Sue noticed Johannah’s passion for human interaction at an early age as her daughter was given a nickname due to how much she enjoyed discussion.

“She loves to sit down and really talk with people. When she was five years old we would call her ‘The Mayor.’ I think that’s carried on and she’s in her element,” Sue said.

Johannah appreciates her parents being role models who have helped shape her into the woman she is today.

“My mom and dad have always been influential people in my life.

Whenever I have issues academically,

or just in life, I always know that I can call them with any problems and they’ll talk to me,” Johannah said.

Part of what has engaged Johannah in the modeling world has been the thriving art scene the Twin Cities embraces.

“Getting connected into the modeling and talent industry, I’ve really been exposed to really creative people. There’s a whole art scene in the Twin Cities that I had no idea [existed],” Johannah said. “They’re really passionate about what they do and that’s been really cool to be able to get to work with people who truly have

made art their passion and their life.”

Johannah has already tasted success—having been hired for several jobs that have put her in the public eye and on network television, including work for Paul Mitchell, Plato’s Closet and Swannies.

“One of the very first jobs I ever got was a Paul Mitchell hair show. I showed up and I got there like two hours early for this casting because I was so nervous,” Johannah said. “It was at Mystic Lake Casino...I was just walking around [with a] deer in the headlights look on my face, I was so nervous. I told myself ‘no one has to know that you’re new’ and ‘no one has to know you literally don’t know what you’re doing, but we’re going to go out there and do our best’ and I actually ended up getting picked for it.”

Having learned many lessons in her short time modeling, Johannah has found pride in what she does but encourages those interested in modeling to have a meaningful reason to do so before trying to build their own career.

“It’s a ton of work, and it takes a ton of dedication, and it’s going to be early mornings and late nights.

Think about the reason why you want to enter the modeling industry— if it’s for Instagram likes or some sort of self-validation, or some other reason, it’s really not going to be fulfilling,” Johannah said.

Highly motivated, Johannah has big plans this summer as she continues to balance academics and career goals.

“This is going to be my first summer staying in the Cities. I’m really excited for this summer because last summer I went home to Hastings so I wasn’t able to take as many jobs. So this summer I’ll have an internship, I’m going to take a summer course at Hamline and hopefully get a lot more modeling work in the Cities.

Hopefully, this summer will be a big one for me,” Johannah said.

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Lamar Shingles: Building a legacy for Hamline recreation

By Gino Terrell

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Photography Elena Deeter

Hamline University’s Director of Campus Recreation Lamar Shingles has learned from his parents the value of leaving something better than how he founded it.

“My parents always taught me that it’s better to leave something better than you found it and I wanted to leave a legacy at Hamline...hopefully, a legacy long after me [because campus recreation] was something that wasn’t here when I first started,” Shingles said.

After obtaining his master’s from Central Michigan University, Shingles began working at Hamline in 2006 as a Coordinator of Diversity Education for Collateral where he worked as a hall director in residential life. After building relationships with other coworkers at Hamline, he decided to stay and

eventually established Hamline’s first campus recreation program. “[It was a] pretty good fit for me right off the bat,” Shingles said.

Growing up in Normal, Illinois with his mother and visiting his father during the summers in Michigan, Shingles said sports was definitely a big part of his life growing up.

“My dad worked in this field of collegiate recreation since I was a little, little kid. Basically, my entire life. My mother was an athletic trainer and then I played sports growing up,” Shingles said. “Sports has always been a big part of my life.”

Since Shingles was in first grade he was involved in gymnastics, where he applied those skills in the circus. He said soccer was his main sport as he also played basketball and football.

He continued to play up until high school when an injury in football taken him away from playing.

“It was not pretty,” Shingles said of the injury.

When it came to building Hamline’s campus recreation Shingles wanted to provide a space where non-student athletes and in some cases studentathletes could participate in recreation activities. In 2008, when Shingles started the recreation program, then sophomore student Christian Swanberg was acquainted to Shingles.

“That’s where the relationship started,” Swanberg said.

He participated in campus recreation and spread the word to help it grow. In 2009, Shingles became the Director of Campus Recreation and by the time Swanberg was a senior he was a student

employee for recreation and held a position which is equivalent to what is now called the student coordinator.

Campus recreation became more extensive after starting off with just sand volleyball. Campus recreation has picked up more intramural sports, built a sports court on campus and continues to provide for students who demand.

“I’ve been advocating for more opportunities for students and that was the catalyst for starting this in the first place,” Shingles said.

In a conversation with senior Mad Sendek, Hamline student Andrea Gross talked about her experience playing intramural innertube water polo last spring. Gross shared how a facility dedicated to recreation would benefit the entire Hamline community and promote healthy habits.

“It was a great opportunity, but we always had to play games at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. because our campus only has one six-lane pool,” Gross told Sendek. “It would be nice to have access to multiple pools for student athletes, non-athletes and intramural sports. And it would open up more working positions on campus for certified lifeguards.”

Shingles is also a co-chair for the National Intramural Recreational Sport Association (NIRSA). There, he connects with other intramural programs across the country.

This year, Shingles’ father is serving as an association president for recreation. In a conference with thousands of people in attendance, his father praised his work.

“It was the ultimate [moment]. My dad says something like that in front of thousands of people, he means it,” Shingles said. “He means it more than he’s saying at the podium because he doesn’t necessarily say ‘I’m proud of you and all the things you do’...my dad’s a little old school. He doesn’t necessarily come out and say it...but

then he takes moments like that.”

While Shingles has helped establish Hamline’s recreational program, his efforts have also been recognized by the student body.

In 2013, Shingles was honored by Hamline Undergraduate Student Congress (HUSC) with the Staff Member of the year honor.

“The key for me was that was from the students,” Shingles said, “to get that from students was very special to me.”

Shingles mentioned how that was a transformational time for campus recreation as they undergone changes that year, in terms of how they were funded, and they “took a big step their program” in 2014.

In addition to building the recreational program, Swanberg said Shingles has been a good mentor for him ever since he was an undergraduate student until now.

After Swanberg graduated from Hamline he started a desk job off campus. He decided to return to Shingles for guidance after realizing he was working

in a field he was not enjoying.

“I came back and Lamar became a really good mentor to me,” he said.

“He helped me weigh the pros and cons with the decisions I can make and how they may impact my life...he’s had a really large impact on where I am today and I’m really grateful for it.”

While Swanberg is pursuing his master’s in sports management he’s reunited with Shingles as he’s a Graduate Assistant for Campus Recreation Programs.

While working at Hamline Shingles said he’s enjoyed working with the students and views Hamline as a unique university.

“I’ve always felt that Hamline was a school that was on the brink of doing something very special…you can’t really put your finger on it but it’s there,” he said.

He said he also enjoys helping students reach the next level.

“You know once that light goes on that student is going to excel at something,” Shingles said. “I like being that person that flips that switch.”

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Changing the way people look at invisible illnesses

By Meagan Lynch Photography Meagan Lynch

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Junior Shelby St. Pierre wanted to help Hamline University students with chronic illnesses after being diagnosed with POTS in spring of 2015.

Student organizations on Hamline’s campus are created by students with a common interest, who want to provide support, or want to spread awareness. Out of all the groups at Hamline University, there were not any official groups for students with any kind of disability. St. Pierre wanted to do something to change this.

St. Pierre was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and grew up in a small town of Cottonwood, Minnesota, which is about a two-and-a-half hour drive southwest from St. Paul, Minnesota.

She attended a K-12 school and was the public relations officer for student council, Student Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and mock trial.

St. Pierre graduated from Lakeview Public School in 2014 and chose to come to Hamline because of the small campus and enrollment. She also wanted to go into the legal field.

At Hamline, she has been involved in many organizations around campus such as being an event coordinator for Minnesota Public Interest Group (MPIRG), working in Student Activities Center, running the variety section as Variety Editor for The Oracle and establishing the Chronic Illness Awareness and Support (CIAS) group as the co-founder.

She is currently majoring in legal studies with a paralegal certificate and minoring in religion.

Last spring, she received a diagnosis that changed every aspect of her life.

“It took about five years for me to be diagnosed with POTS,” St. Pierre said.

“I went through a bunch of tests. Then, on April 6 of last year, I had my last test that diagnosed me with POTS.” POTS is a combination of symptoms.

It is caused by a malfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) which is responsible for regulating

to start the foundation for a group.

“Shelby has done an amazing job bringing this new organization into being [one] that has been a help and support not just for her but for a growing number of students on campus who deal with serious health issues,” Professor Deanna Thompson, who is the faculty advisor for CIAS, said. “I think starting CIAS has been a very brave, bold and courageous move for Shelby. Such groups are starting to emerge on other campuses, but the identity, parameters, structure, etc., of such a group is a lot to take on.”

St. Pierre has many hopes for the future of CIAS. Getting more people involved as well as having more events to spread word about the group is an on-going goal.

“She is very determined,” Brand said. “When she puts her mind to something, she gets it done.” the body’s automatic systems.

This includes cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and urinary systems.

The symptoms of this chronic illness include tachycardia, chest pain, dizziness and the list goes on. Unfortunately, these symptoms come and go as they please without warning, making it something incredibly difficult to deal with.

“It is one of the hardest things I have had to deal with,” she said. “I have to plan out my day according to the amount of energy I wake up with. It has affected every part of my life; my social life, my school life and my family members.”

This didn’t stop St. Pierre from making the most of her life as a college student.

She wanted to make a difference.

Because of this, and with the help of many, the Chronic Illness Awareness and Support group was created.

“I didn’t have a whole lot of people that I could count on last spring so I kind of felt like I was all on my own,” St. Pierre said. “I didn’t really want to tell

anybody about it because I didn’t really know what was going on. I had never heard of it and I was still wrapping my head around the diagnosis.”

St. Pierre wanted to create a group where students with any kind of disability could come into a safe, supportive space and share their experiences. It is a place to be comfortable and discuss everyday struggles and provide support for one another.

“I just thought to myself that no one should have to feel this way,” she said. “No one should have to feel like they are going through this alone…I knew feeling like that was not good.”

Senior Ellen Brand, who worked in MPIRG with St. Pierre, heard of her idea to start this group and jumped in to help.

“I had heard there was talk about starting one [chronic illness group] in the past but it fell through,” St. Pierre said. “I thought it was something that Hamline really needed.”

With Brand’s help, they were able

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Senior Anna Semanko will walk across the stage at commencement in May, a few months before starting her PhD program in health and social psychology at North Dakota State University this coming fall.

“She’s very ambitious and such an inspiring and incredible person,” Evelyn Pechous, president of Delta Tau Sorority, said.

Completing college in three years and being accepted into a prestigious PhD program aren’t the only reasons why Semanko is known for her ambition and determination.

Just this past fall Semanko’s life took an unexpected turn.

While Semanko had done everything to prepare herself for graduate school, nothing prepared her for the death of her father in September.

Only a few weeks into her fall semester of senior year, Semanko received a devastating phone call from her stepmother and learned that her father had passed away in his sleep.

Just the day before, Semanko recalled talking to her father on the phone and remembered him expressing how proud he was of her and how her father knew Semanko would get into graduate school.

“After learning my best friend was gone overnight, I lost it. I broke down and didn’t know what to do,” Semanko said. “Losing my father was somewhat of a shock, though he did have a heart condition.

He didn’t take life for granted and fought through his condition for over 10 years.”

Following her heart: Anna Semanko’s story of courage and strength

By Cloe Gray Photography

Cloe Gray *Minnesota News Association Nominated Finalists Story

“Every day was a gift to him,” she said.

This wasn’t the first time Semanko had lost a loved one. When she was eight years old, Semanko lost her brother in a fatal car incident. The following year when Semanko was nine years old, her mother passed away after a long fight battling breast cancer.

Semanko returned to class only two days after grieving the loss of her father. She didn’t want to miss school and felt she needed to keep busy.

“After the initial shock [of losing her father] I really had to buckle down,” Semanko said.

“Funeral arrangements

needed to be made and I didn’t want to fall behind.”

In addition to helping arrange her father’s funeral, Semanko had to take care of many family matters including handling her father’s financials and assist in managing both of the Semankos’ homes in Fridley and Dassel, Minnesota.

When one would think matters couldn’t get any worse, it did.

A week after Semanko’s father passed away, her home in Fridley was vandalized, and her mother’s old room was lit on fire, burning down part of the house.

Throughout this

time, Semanko stayed strong and took care of everything she needed to do. Insurance covered the cost of the damages to her home in Fridley. Semanko is preparing to sell both of her family’s homes.

Semanko’s father always encouraged her to be very independent and know how to take care of herself. She will continue to take care of things with confidence, as she always has.

“You shouldn’t waste time doing anything you don’t like,”Semanko said. “Spend time doing things you are passionate about and love doing.”

Throughout her life,

Semanko has focused on participating in things she loves doing. During high school she was in student council for all four years and acted as a campus liaison. There she managed communication between students and administration.

In addition, she was involved in choir, band, volleyball, swimming, speech, the National Forensic League, Allis Chalmers Club and the Minnesota and National Street Rod Associations.

Her involvement didn’t stop there when she came to Hamline. Semanko held leadership positions of Campus Liaison for Delta Tau Sorority and Public Relations Chair for Inter Greek Council.

Pechous said Semanko is one of the most “selfless people” she has ever met.

“Even though Anna has

many things going on in her life, she always asks how others are doing and cares about everyone,” Pechous said. “She always knows when I’m having a bad day and is there for me.”

In addition to her leadership positions in student organizations, Semanko was a junior legal assistant at her father’s law firm, human resources intern at the Arc Greater Twin Cities, a server at Old Chicago and was a student assistant at Chelsea Heights Elementary School and Hmong College Prep Academy throughout her time at Hamline.

This was all on top of studying and completing coursework for her psychology major and minors in philosophy and education.

“I chose to major in psychology because

substance of the mind is something I’ll never get bored of,” Semanko said. “It’s just so intricate and interesting.”

Semanko wants to become a psychology professor after pursuing her PhD in health and social psychology.

During her time at Hamline, she was a research assistant and worked on an independent research project, which looked at the correlation between political affiliation and views on women’s rights.

She also conducted research concerning gender differences in perceived dangerous situations.

Semanko’s hard work did not go unnoticed by one of her professor’s, Dr. Rebecca Neal.

“She’s someone you want to have in your class, the colleague you want at work and the person you want

to get to know,” Neal said.

Neal said Semanko is a unique person.

“I would describe Anna as an exceptional person and a unique human being that is driven, focused, resilient and abounding in strength,” Neal said.

“She’s very kind hearted, considerate of others and highly intelligent.”

While professors, classmates and friends Semanko has made may wish she could spend an extra year at Hamline, Semanko’s next chapter in life is about to begin as she embarks on her journey to become a psychology professor.

“Her ability to overcome tragedy, graduate early and to be accepted into one of the leading PhD programs in the country speaks to who she is,” Neal said.

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Gabriel Guarin leads by example on the court and in the studio

By Sean Hanson

Photography Sean Hanson

Between tennis matches, art projects and his academic studies, sophomore student Gabriel Guarin remains an active member of the Hamline community.

The youngest of four brothers, Guarin was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, where he spent much of his youth expressing himself through art, music and tennis.

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“I used to draw and play with plasticine,” Guarin said. “I had a bunch of summer art courses all throughout my childhood.”

Guarin demonstrated creative prowess early on during those Bogotá summers and became dignified as the “top of his class in art.”

In 2011, Guarin visited the United States for the first time to see his older

brother, who was living in Minneapolis with his wife. It was this trip that inspired Guarin to bring his athletic and artistic talents to American soil.

Guarin returned to the United States in 2012 to apply to high schools in the Twin Cities area. He was accepted and enrolled in the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minnesota while taking English language courses

in downtown Saint Paul where he resides with his older brother’s family.

Guarin has not returned to Colombia since his move to Minnesota.

“I do miss Colombia,” Guarin said. “The people there are more outgoing and enthusiastic, and speaking the same language helps too. My first year of high school was kind of rough because it was big a culture shock, and I wasn’t able to speak English as well as I can now.”

Guarin overcame this language barrier to become well-regarded in both the school’s artistic community and on the tennis court.

Following the example of his older brother, a Hamline alum, Guarin applied to Hamline University to

study art and play for the men’s tennis team. He enrolled in the Hamline Engineering First-Year Seminar to link artistry with his architectural interests, where he made a positive impression on his fellow classmates.

“My first impression of Gabe was that he seemed really comfortable talking to new people,” Kellen Overvig, a sophomore student and friend of Guarin’s who attended the same FYSEM, said.

“None of us knew each other, and Gabe definitely came off as genuine. He seemed more ready for the transition to college than a lot of other people.”

But beyond the confines of the classroom, Guarin also made an impression on his tennis teammates as an “approachable guy who loves to meet new people.”

“From the first day of practice you can tell Gabe is the one who connects with the newer players and makes them feel comfortable,” sophomore teammate Matt Seracki said. “He’s started to take a leadership role within the team, which is huge, because he can get everyone dialed in and focused.”

Seracki’s sentiments were shared by sophomore Ben Klimmek, another friend and teammate.

“Since Gabe is eager to be involved in the team himself, he plays a key role in getting the rest of the team excited and creating an inclusive

atmosphere,” Klimmek said. “He is always looking for ways to make others feel like a part of the team, which is huge for morale.”

Concerning tennis, Guarin said that he’d like to “take it as far as [he] can,” and “maybe do some coaching.”

Guarin brought this same interest in leadership to his efforts in teaching tennis to kids enrolled in the All-Sports Camp at Hamline University during the summer of 2015, and hopes to coach full time in the summer of 2016.

But sport is not the only arena in which Guarin engages with the Hamline community; he also strives to express his thoughts on social issues through art.

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Environmentalism is one such issue prevalently found in Guarin’s work.

“I like to do a lot of organic stuff, like a tree sculpture to make people aware of destroying the earth, or a giraffe sculpture I made from wood,” he said.

“Natural stuff with organic lines.”

One sculpture made by Guarin depicts a set of shoulders based upon a mold of teammate and friend Klimmek’s back. The piece, as described by Guarin, represents “how people have a lot of problems in their lives, and they ‘carry’ that weight on their backs.” The sculpture deliberately parallels the Greek myth of Atlas, the Titan, carrying the world upon his shoulders.

“I was more than willing to help Gabe with his art project,” Klimmek said. “I thought first of all, it would be a unique experience, but more importantly because I knew Gabe would do the same for me if I needed help.”

Guarin said sexual violence is the focus of his newest piece, a tribute to “people who suffer in silence” in the wake of their assault.

“Art evolves,” said Guarin, smiling, hard at work on the piece, “in a way which I think is beautiful. Because you have an idea first and you take that idea and you’re pursuing it, and then you realize the idea has changed while you were working on it. So you add stuff, take stuff away, but you just have to let it happen.”

For now, Guarin “tries to take things day by day,” much like the piecemeal evolution of his art.

He remains devoted to the team that has become his “family” away from Colombia, the art which expresses his deeper concerns and the Hamline community at large, which has helped him “call the Twin Cities ‘home.’”

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Taking care of one athlete at a time

By Travis Whitt Photography Elena Deeter

Although Hamline’s head athletic trainer Tara Dooley is in her rookie year, Dooley is not a new face to Hamline University.

Tucked away in the basement of the Walker Field House and behind the scenes at every Hamline Athletic’s event is Hamline Athletics training staff. For the past four years Dooley has been taking care of Hamline athletes as an assistant athletic trainer before she became the head athletic trainer this past school year.

A day in the life of the head athletic trainer is never the same. Tasks change day-to-day and hours change based on which team is in season.

Dooley’s schedule stays fluid based on when teams schedule their practice.

Dooley and her staff put in more than 60 hours a week tending to athletes and their medical needs.

From applying athletic tape to prevent injuries to helping athletes get back in the game after an injury, Dooley and her team do it all.

Dooley was sold on her career by her junior year of high school when her team first acquired an athletic trainer. The atmosphere that came with athletics was something she simply could not give up.

“I am inspired by driven people and that helps me from becoming complacent in my job and from getting burnt out, which happens in this profession quite easily,” Dooley said.

Dooley is always on the move.

Moving from practice to practice, constantly on her feet providing treatment in the training room, and demonstrating exercises to help build an injured athlete strengthen back up to a competitive level.

Dooley is always running in to help.

This was something she learned in her time with the Minnesota Army National Guard.

Dooley spent 12 years in the National Guard and was deployed twice. Dooley’s first deployment was to Iraq in 2007. She worked with a Blackhawk unit and was in charge of analyzing enemy weapons. She used her knowledge to create flight paths for the aircraft in order to keep her team safe.

After her first deployment, Dooley returned stateside to finish graduate school at the University of Minnesota where she earned her MA in Kinesiology as an assistant athletic trainer. A month after her graduation, Dooley was deployed again. She spent a year in Kuwait.

“This time I was in charge of 19

base security, weapons security and classified information. Our mission was to maintain daily base operations and support the evacuation of troops out of Iraq,” Dooley said.

While she was deployed in Kuwait, Dooley applied for the job at Hamline. She was hired as an Assistant Athletic Trainer in June of 2012 and was promoted to head trainer three years later.

“Being in the military had a huge influence on the development of leadership skills, working with many populations and managing myself and the people I was in charge of in high stress situations,” Dooley said.

As an athletic trainer, the most important part of Dooley’s position is being an advocate for each and every athlete that walks through her door.

Dooley’s job is to do what is best for the

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Tara Dooley last fall assisting Piper football athlete senior Terry Pegues (photo by Gino Terrell). athlete both mentally and physically.

“When it comes to recovering from an injury, most of the success comes from the athlete themselves. I see myself as a tool that the athletes can choose to use to recover,” Dooley said.

Dooley’s favorite thing about her job is seeing an injured athlete return to their sport.

However, getting to an athlete before they get injured is Dooley’s primary goal. Her and her staff work to help athletes build and take care of their bodies in order to prevent injury.

When injuries do occur, Dooley and her team of 25 student-workers and two assistants do what they can to help athletes recover. In addition to helping athletes recover, Dooley teaches her staff how to provide treatment as well as taping and stretches that will prevent injuries.

“As a boss, she pushes me to be a leader and an independent thinker,” junior student-worker Katie Novosad said.

“To use what I learn in her class and apply it to everyday settings. She works well with all athletes and she is a huge part to every team that she works with.”

The training room staff helps athletes by providing treatments using heat, ice, electric stimulation and light therapy. Dooley also works with athletes to rebuild their strength in places weakened by injury with both weighted and unweighted exercises.

“When I got injured Tara put forth all of her knowledge and skills to make sure that I had the best recovery and that I wouldn’t re-injure myself,” sophomore football player Gabe Rodriguez said.

Taking care of people is what Dooley does best.

“I myself, and have over heard other staff members being called ‘mom.’ Many times I also feel like I am a therapist/ counselor. We seem to be a trustworthy sounding board from everything to sport, to school to relationships. The mental health of an athlete is just as important as physical,” Dooley said.

With one daughter and another child on the way Dooley approaches the wellbeing of Hamline’s athletes with the same care as she would with her own children.

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Brandon Zurn

Charlie Adams

Piper hockey duo succeed as lifetime teammates

By Travis Whitt

On the ice seniors Brandon Zurn and Charlie Adams have built a relationship that has led them to a MIAC Championship, a relationship that has been in the making for 15 years of playing hockey together.

Zurn strapped on the skates at the age of three and has been scoring goals ever since. After 20 years of hockey, Zurn has learned a thing or two about himself.

“Hockey is my safe haven, it’s kind of cliche but hockey gives me sanity.

If there is a problem or concern occurring in my life outside of hockey, whether it is stress about school or family issues, I have always had hockey to lean on,” Zurn said. “When I step onto the ice, all my stresses and 22

Photography Taylor Geer

problems go away and for that hour on the ice my problems are resolved.”

He continued to play from the age of three until his senior year of high school. After high school, like many collegiate hockey players, Zurn went on to play junior hockey. After only eight games as a junior hockey player Zurn decided to hang up his skates to be closer to his family.

St. Cloud State is where Zurn enrolled for his first year of education without hockey. Throughout that year of his life, Zurn only got on the ice a couple of times and did not play competitive hockey.

“It was weird not having a team to hang out with and be a part of. And I suddenly began to regret my decision

on quitting hockey,” Zurn said.

He then received a call from Hamline asking him to join their hockey program. He accepted and eventually reunited with his old high school teammate Adams, after Adams transferred from St. Thomas. During that 2014-15 season, the two found their magic on ice together to help Hamline win its first MIAC Championship since the 2010-11 season.

Much like Zurn, Adams’ experience on the ice is in the double digits. Adams also accredits hockey as an influential factor in making him the man he is today.

“Hockey is who I am. It’s made me [a] tough and hardworking guy. I take

things I’ve learned on the ice and apply them to everyday life,” Adams said.

On the ice for Hamline, Adams takes on a leadership role by doing the right things.

“I like to lead by example, I’m not a huge voice guy so I like to do the right things and work hard on and off the ice and have guys watch, then follow because my work ethic speaks for itself,” Adams said.

Co-Captains Zurn and Adams’, as well as the rest of the Piper Hockey team, showcased their work ethic during the MIAC Championship last year. A game in which Zurn and Adams scored three out of the Pipers’ four points to defeat St. Mary’s 4-2 in Winona, Minnesota.

“Winning a MIAC Championship was unlike any other experience in my life. The atmosphere was incredible, the game happened so fast I wish I was able to take more of it in,” Zurn said.

Charlie Adams with the puck (photo by Taylor Geer).

Brandon Zurn scores in his final home game at Oscar Johnson Arena February 20, 2016 (photo by Taylor Geer).

For Adams, it was night he could never forget.

“I can’t really explain how it felt. It was an amazing feeling that I really can’t explain. I’ll never forget it,” he said. “I think we were an overall great team. We had guys that bought into their roles, we had guys that scored, that grinded, every part of the game we had guys putting the team first so we could win. Nobody cared who got credit, everyone just wanted to win.”

The scoring in the MIAC Championship game exemplifies the relationship that Zurn and Adams have built over the years of being teammates.

“By playing together so long we have great trust in each other,” Adams said. “I always know what Zurn is thinking and where he’s going to be and same for him to me.”

Both Zurn and Adams attended Mahtomedi high school in Mahtomedi, Minnesota and attribute some of their success to each other.

“We definitely push each other to

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be better,” Zurn said. “Both me and Charlie are competitive and we push each other to the limits. There always seems to be some competitive tension between us but we know that if we try and do everything individually that that success will quickly vanish.

We’ve played for so long that it’s like I will know where Charlie is on the ice at all times and vice versa. It’s like a sixth sense we have on the ice.”

The two are now able to continue building their relationship on the ice as they signed to play with the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) in early March.

“The Pro deal was a very cool experience and it made our loss to Augsburg a little less devastating,” Zurn said. “To be honest it happened so fast it was hard to take everything in. We lost Saturday night at Augsburg and on Sunday morning I had a phone call from the Pensacola Ice Flyers head coach and by Wednesday Charlie and I were in a packed car heading to meet the team in Peoria.”

Adams said he was shocked.

“We both were very excited and yeah just happy to continue playing the game we love,” Adams said. “Pensacola is an amazing city and we were both excited to see what the future holds.”

Brandon Zurn jocking for possession of the puck (photo by Taylor Geer).

After their many contributions to the Hamline hockey program and the greater Hamline community, these two athletes have left their mark.

Athletic Director Jason Verdugo said he’d like all athletes that go through Hamline’s program to experience what they have experienced.

“Both of them are really good students. Both of them are going to graduate with degrees from Hamline, which is very important to them; and for them that’s just as important as winning a [MIAC] championship and signing a full contract,” Verdugo said. “We’re going to miss them because they are clear cut examples of what we want all of our athletes to experience. A lot of success on the

Charlie Adams and Brandon Zurn photo ops with teammates after winning the MIAC Championship March 7, 2015 at St. Mary’s (photo by Gino Terrell).

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field, on the ice and in the classroom.”

As they are on their way out of Hamline University, Adams is thankful for all that has happened.

“Thanks to coaches, teammates, fans and those at Hamline who have supported us throughout the years,” Adams said. “It’s meant a lot and I’ll never forget my time at Hamline.”

Charlie Adams & Brandon Zurn Accomplishments Combined for 99 points 2015-16 season (*Zurn 50, Adams 49). *Led the D-III. Adams named first team D3hockey.com Zurn named second team D3hockey.com Both 2015-16 All-MIAC Selections Adams 2015-16 MIAC Men’s Hockey Player of the Year 2014-15 season MIAC Champions Zurn 2013-14 MIAC All-Rookie Selection

Charlie Adams celebrates alongside President Linda Hanson (2005-15) after winning the 2015 MIAC Championship at St. Mary’s (photo by Gino Terrell).

*Gino Terrell was named the 2017 National Association of Black Journalists Student Journalist of the Year

This Story is a 2-time Award Nominated Article: *National Association of Black Journalists Nominated Finalists in Feature Reporting *Society of Professional Journalists Nominated Finalists in Feature Writing

*Society of Professional Journalists Nominated Finalists in Feature Photography

**Winner of 2 National Association of Black Journalists Awards: Sports Reporting & Multiple Images *Society of Professional Journalists Nominated Finalists in Sports Writing

*Society of Professional Journalists Nominated Finalists in Feature Photography

*Society of Professional Journalists Nominated Finalists in Sports Photography

*Society of Professional Journalists Award Winner in Sports Photography