Year: Junior
Major: Catholic Studies and Philosophy
Hometown: Maddock, ND
High School: Our Lady of Good Counsel Homeschool

Organizations or activities: Saint Paul’s Outreach and I work for the UST Center for Writing.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Read, write, take walks, sing poorly, play games, garden, bake,

Anticipated career after college: Teacher. I plan to attend graduate school in Catholic Stduies or some field of Humanities. I am considering University of St. Thomas, Notre Dame, Catholic U, University of Minnesota for graduate work.

Why did you come to UST?
I knew that I wanted to go to a Catholic school if at all possible, and the only Catholic school in North Dakota did not have the programs I was looking for. I heard about St. Thomas, knew it had a good journalism program(which is what I was planning on studying at the time), and decided to come here without too much thought involved. It didn’t hurt that the Minnesota Twins played next door, or that the Holy Spirit was obviously guiding my decision.

What does it mean to you to be selected as an Aquinas Fellow?
It is a great honor to be selected as an Aquinas Fellow. I am so grateful to be a part of Catholic Studies here at St. Thomas, and I can honestly say that much of my growth into Christian maturity has been aided by the great relationships I’ve formed with Catholic Studies professors and students. Being selected as an Aquinas Fellow is really a testament to the great work that Catholic Studies is doing preparing students for a life of Christian discipleship.

What has been your most valuable experience at UST?
I have been touched and influenced by the many strong relationships that I have formed with other committed Catholics at St. Thomas. If one wants, one can find a real community of believers at this campus, and that fact has been the single most valuable experience I have had at St. Thomas. It is one thing to learn about your faith in a classroom, but to actually live it out takes a great amount of work. That work is made easier by the many friends I have who hold similar ideals of prayer, love of others, sacrifice, and a deep love of Christ.

How will being an Aquinas Fellow help you discern and work towards your vocation?
I feel very strongly called to live a life devoted to the proclamation of the Gospel. Christ told his disciples to “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations”, and our present and previous popes have highlighted the need for a New Evangelization. However, it is not always clear or easy to determine how one can actually live this sort of life. Hopefully, this Fellowship will allow me to wade through the waters of discernment with men and women who have already discerned their vocations, and with fellow students who are still in the process of doing such.

What advice would you give a student about discerning their vocation?
If you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you simply will not be able to discern your vocation. Discernment cannot simply be about meeting with a spiritual director or going through a series of Ignatian Exercises. Instead, true Christian discernment begins in the chapel, praying earnestly that God’s will be done. If you have a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ, rest assured that He will open the doors for you to discern and accept your vocation as a Christian man or woman