University of St. Thomas

Tara Trepanier, Class of 2005

I first proclaimed my intention to go to the University of St. Thomas while driving down Cretin Avenue with my father when I was 11 years old. Though I hail from Up North (Bemidji to be exact) I spent many summers living with friends in the Groveland-Macalister neighborhood so I could be closer to the St. Paul Figure Skating Club to train. Every day we drove down Cretin on the way to the rink and over and over again passed St. Thomas. I vividly remember watching Frey Science Center and Morrison Hall go up knowing they’d be ready for me when I got there.

I don’t have a history of family members going to St. Thomas, as many students do, but I suppose in another way I do. The figure skating community is a lot like a family and many of the older skaters at the rink were St. Thomas students. Sara Kastner was one of them. She was an excellent role model both on and off the ice, and her dedication and determination made me look up to her. I remember Sara often talking about St. Thomas and she even drove us back and forth from the rink regularly. So in addition to my daily drives down Cretin, the great example set by Sara solidified my decision to attend St. Thomas.

Once I got to campus there was a whole new set of great role models between professors, staff, and peers. My plan had been to get a major in psychology and then coach figure skating forever, but somehow my plans changed. Though I coached figure skating through my entire four years at St. Thomas and did become a psychology major, I started to develop different plans for my future through both my core and major classes. After a few courses with Dr. Britain Scott and Dr. Shirley Jordon, I soon became a women’s studies minor as well. Some of my most meaningful class experiences came through their guidance while doing independent research, discussing women and Christianity, and during a J-Term trip to Paris and London to study psychoanalysis and feminism.

During my senior year, thanks to the Luanne Dummer Center for Women, I was given the opportunity to attend the LOTT (Leaders of Today and Tomorrow) conference at the Minnesota State Capital. There I had the opportunity to meet women in leadership positions, hear from them, and ask them questions. A chance to network and think about career paths was also provided. It was then I started to realize that I wanted to be part of this network of great role models and someday take a leadership position too. Shortly thereafter, I began branching out and earned an internship at Minneapolis City Hall, followed by work on a US Congressional campaign.

I currently find myself in the Republic of Macedonia as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I’m putting my leadership skills to work through literacy campaigns, working on multi-cultural projects, Girls’ camps, and teaching the dangers of human trafficking. My first year here has been an amazing experience, and I am very thankful to the team of women who empowered me to take this path, I truly don’t know where I’d be without their influence and guidance. Someday, somehow I hope to pay them back for setting such great examples for me. I can only hope to carry on the tradition by providing a positive example for young women as well.