GRADUATING
CLASS OF
2021
Saint Lawrence Catholic Campus Center
Captured within these pages, you will find a few great
guides and forms those at the University
stories of our 2021 graduates. COVID-19 will not stop
of Kansas in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
them from writing incredible stories with their lives. These
through the Catholic intellectual, moral,
stories are what give us energy for our mission here at
liturgical, and spiritual tradition.
KU, as they have been sent out to the entire world to be
Her
deepest desire is to send out full and free
disciples of Christ in their life and work.
disciples of Jesus Christ capable of the greatest stories.
Hey, Catholic Jayhawks! Thanks for taking a look at this year’s COVID infused vintage of KU graduates. At dinner with the seniors, my heart was full as I looked with such confidence and hope in the stories these Catholic Jayhawks will write with their lives, inspired deeply in their hearts by the faith they dared to live out while at KU. Join me in praising God for the risk, vulnerability, commitment, communion, self-gift and contagiosity embodied by these exciting young people. I can hardly wait to see them take their place and change our dear world for the better. I am happy to be moving forward in faith with all of our KU Catholics! Congratulations and Rock Chalk to the Class of 2021.
Father Mitchel Zimmerman Director, St. Lawrence
Hometown: Shawnee, KS
Brooke Carlstedt “It wasn’t until after I attended
Major: Accounting Next Steps: I am completing my Masters of Accounting and then going into public accounting in Kansas City.
continuously growing as those at SLC want more people
Koinonia that I really understood the community of
to experience the love of God. The joy is contagious and
St. Lawrence. After I went on the retreat, I felt like no
I think it’s so important to find those who are on the
matter where I was around Lawrence, I saw someone I
outskirts and help them feel included. No matter where
knew from SLC, and they always said hello. People at
I end up or who I encounter along the way, I want to
the St. Lawrence Center really care about each other.
make sure they feel how loved they are and they have a
I think it’s incredible how the community is
place where they belong just like I found at SLC.”
Fritz Lienemann
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
to expect. The community is amazing!
Major: Economics
Every single person I’ve met has made me
Next Steps: I will be looking for work in the Kansas City area.
feel like family. I know nearly everyone who is around the center, even people
“When I transferred
I don’t see that often. This is the one to
thing I’ll miss about leaving KU, the
KU in the spring of 2019, I knew nothing
community and the incredible bond I’ve
about SLC. About a week in, I went to a
had with everyone. Thank you for the
SLC event on a whim, not knowing what
best 2.5 years of my life!”
Hometown: Wellington, KS
I think the biggest thing that I’ve grown in
Major: Accounting & Finance
while at KU has been self-awareness, which I think
Next Steps: Pursuing a Masters of Accounting and CPA.
has led to a growth in interior freedom as well. By realizing that I’m not alone in this fight and I have the Lord on my side, my conscience has been more
“My experience of the community at St. Lawrence has been very fulfilling. I originally
at ease and I have been able to live much more as myself and not what society or my parents or my
WILL LONG
friends want me to be.
started coming to SLC my freshman year and
Our faith can impact others at even the
I thought the people here were really weird for
most improbable of times. I was sitting at a bar
taking their faith so seriously. However, after
earlier this year with some of my roommates and
spending four years at SLC, I have found some
neighbors. One of my neighbors, who’s now a good
of my absolute best friends at KU and in life. The
friend of mine, started talking to me, and he told
community as a whole has been welcoming from
me that I have inspired him as a Catholic. He told
the start, and once I got past my own insecurities,
me that he sees me as I see many Catholic leaders
I was able to engage with a group of people that
in my life — people living virtue even when the
made me feel like I belonged here.
world comes out against it.”
Haley Patterson
Hometown: Lenexa, KS Major: Exercise Science Next Steps: Graduate School at Creighton University in Physical Therapy Program
“The community of St. Lawrence
how to love unconditionally, and how to live a
had an inexplicable draw to it. The women at St.
fierce faith life. The women at St. Lawrence have
Lawrence have shown me so much about what it
impacted me greatly and I am eternally thankful
means to be a daughter of God through living holy and
for them taking the time to get to know me over
faithful lives. I have learned patience, perseverance,
the last four years.”
Emma Finder
Hometown: Lincoln, NE Major: Music Therapy Next Steps: Internship at University of Iowa Hospital
“The community at St. Lawrence
I intend to fully practice the Catholic principles
is authentic and welcoming in every sense of the word.
that I have formed during my time in college with each
Not only is almost everyone open to meeting new
and every patient that I encounter while working at the
people, but there are so many different things for people
hospital. I believe that I am deeply committed to using
to get involved in that it makes it easy for people to
the gifts I have been given in order to intentionally love
feel like they belong. The diversity of ministries and
every person that I encounter on a daily basis. I deeply
activities that allow for friendships to form and for
desire to share the joy, peace and love of Christ whether
intellect to expand are so beneficial and easily accessible
it’s in my workplace, with my friends or family, or out
to students from all walks of life.
in public.”
Hometown: Overland Park, KS Major: Civil Engineering, with an emphasis in Environmental Next Steps: FOCUS Missionary
Ellen O’Gorman
“Jessica Little is one of my
daughter of God. I do not have to prove to
greatest guides and greatest friends. She was
others or myself that I am intelligent, funny,
a FOCUS missionary during 2018-2020 at
cool, witty, beautiful, holy, etc. I am who God
St. Lawrence. Jessica’s pursuit of holiness is
made me to be and I am very good! This deep
something I had never seen before. Through her
commitment that has been created will not
friendship, she brought me straight to the foot of
only continue to change my life but change my
the cross and showed me first hand how to refuse
future. I just want to give a huge thank you to
Jesus nothing.
everyone at the St. Lawrence Center. I have had
By praying everyday, I have been able to truly know and believe that I am a beloved
an incredible college experience and I owe a lot of that to you all!”
Co ng ratul atio ns to
o t he Cl ass of 2 0 2 1!
“St. Lawrence
Hanna Funk
was one of
the first communities I threw myself into
Hometown: Topeka, KS
effort to check in with me, support me, and encourage me in my endeavors.
at KU and I was welcomed with open
Throughout my college years, I have
arms. I always felt like my presence was
watched myself grow from a self-conscious
valued and appreciated, even if I did not
girl who cares very much about how the
know anyone there. The people at the
world sees her into a confident, secure
St. Lawrence Center made an obvious
woman who is sure and proud of her values and makes decisions based on those values
Major: Elementary Education
rather than the opinions of others. I believe
Next Steps: Finding employment!
in the importance of being open minded and willing to take advice from others while still staying true to my core values because at the end of the day, I know in my heart what is good and true. I have learned that no one can please everyone, so it is only my responsibility to make God and myself proud.”
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Roger Cimino
Major: Journalism and History Next Steps: Jesuit Volunteer Corp Missionary
“I look back fondly and bittersweetly
relationships are everything to me, and that nothing is guaranteed, so simply enjoying moments as they come and leaning into the present, no matter where I’m at, is all I can do.
at my college years, and two things come to mind:
A quote from Etienne de Grellet says “I shall
my community and my experiences. I fell in love
pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any
with the St. Lawrence community and the people
kindness I can show to any human being; let me do
I met there. Through all these experiences, I find
it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not
myself overcome with gratitude for the joys of college
pass this way again.” Thank You for your commitment
life, which remind me how much joy and hope there
to students and loving them so tenderly, everything I
is in the adventures to come, despite the long, hard,
am and everything I will be is because of y’all and the
seemingly overwhelming days. Looking back I realize
home I found at SLC.”
Andrew Wagner “The community at the St. Lawrence
Hometown: Overland Park, KS Major: Business Marketing and Journalism Strategic Communications Next Steps: Moving to Chicago to work in advertising
like home. It saw me on my best and worst days, and
Center is incomparable to any other community on the
with my highs and lows throughout my college career.
KU campus. This community has helped me to want to
It was a place I felt invited to try new opportunities
make deeper connections with others. Right now, I feel
at because of the people. The people who show up here
I am being called to meet people where they are at. I
demonstrate a high level of care for every person that
can’t build community with others unless I first know
walks through those doors. I am truly going to miss
who I am and then take the time to get to know who
this place and the person that it has helped me become
others are.
over these past few years. My journey isn’t over, but
The Saint Lawrence Center was a place that felt
just beginning. Thank you for everything!”
Hometown: Ulysses, KS Major: English and Political Science Next Steps: Looking for jobs in state government
At the time, I was not Catholic or even really religious at that time. However, something compelled me to say yes and stay for the ceremony.
Ashley Devore
Being in quarantine allowed me
“My experience within the
to think a lot about my faith and my
community of St. Lawrence has been the
relationship with God. After coming back
ride of a lifetime.
to school in August, I made my intentions
I first came into contact with the
clear that I was ready to become Catholic.
community at the Stations of the Cross
It changed my life and I’ve been blessed to
my sophomore year. I was stopped by a
be a part of the St. Lawrence community
woman named Sarah Burns and asked if
through
I was interested in the Catholic Church.
Group, and RCIA.
Spiritual
Direction,
Samuel
William Along
ACCOUNTING & FINANCE
Raegan Billinger
HUMAN BIOLOGY
Sara Bordier
APPLIED BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Marin Brown
MARKETING
Daniel Businger
COMS
Isaiah Cacka
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Drea Cangelose
PHARMACY
Brooke Carlstedt
ACCOUNTING
Amber Charles
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Roger Cimino
JOURNALISM AND HISTORY
Chad Coates
ACCOUNTING
Miguel Cubero
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Abby Davidow
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Sarah Dean
MARKETING
Sheyenne Denton
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Ashley Devore
ENGLISH AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
Brenna Dillon
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Emma Easom
LAW
Emma Finder
MUSIC THERAPY
Megan Foley
PSYCHOLOGY
Hanna Funk
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
Micaela Gibson
MUSIC THERAPY
Emily Gudino
PSYCHOLOGY
Kiara Holtkamp
MICROBIOLOGY
Emily Kaufman
ACCOUNTING
Cortney Langley
BIOLOGY
Katherine Lauer Fritz Lienemann
BIOLOGY ECONOMICS
Mark Loftus
BIOCHEMISTRY
Joanna Lopez-Bormann
APPLIED BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE WITH A SPECIALTY IN COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Rosemarie Maddock
MUSIC, EMPHASIS IN VOICE
Matthew Moeder
NURSING
Lindsey Morin
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Valine Nguyen
BUSINESS MARKETING
Ellen O’Gorman
CIVIL ENGINEERING, EMPHASIS IN ENVIRONMENTAL
Camila Ordonez Vargas
ECONOMICS & POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH A BUSINESS MINOR
Haley Patterson
EXERCISE SCIENCE
Lissa Peloquin
MUSIC THERAPY
Rosemary Peterson
APPLIED BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
Katherine Pileggi
NURSING
Joshua Plagge
ACCOUNTING, FINANCE
Elaine Pope
ENGLISH, PRE-MEDICINE
Helen Rhodes
BACHELOR’S OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
Katie Rhodes
MARKETING AND JOURNALISM
Daniel Schmidt III
MATHEMATICS
Francesca Semaan
COMMUNITY HEALTH WITH PSYCH AND BUSINESS MINOR
Aidan Setter
BUSINESS ADMIN W SPORTS MANAGEMENT MINOR
Ally Sheehy
SOCIAL WORK
Megan Shulfer
SPANISH, MINOR: LINGUISTICS
Katie Steele
MUSIC THERAPY
Caitlin Steimle
ENGLISH
Emily Vitt
PHARMACY
Andrew Wagner
BUSINESS MARKETING AND JOURNALISM STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Joe Weigel Zach Winterman
FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING ACCOUNTING
1631 Crescent Rd. Lawrence, K S 66044 (785) 843-0357
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