St. Lawrence Graduating Class of 2021

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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