Class of 2021 Memories

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf is from summer of 2019, watching the sunrise behind Thorson (I think) after staying up all night over the weekend playing games, hanging out with friends, and debating issues of morality, self-preservation vs. altruism, the meaning of life, etc. And then we went for breakfast and crashed afterward I think.” — Laila Rahman, psychology and English major

“While it’s hard to choose, some of my favorite memories at St. Olaf are singing in my first Christmas Fest freshman year, performing in Carnegie Hall with the St. Olaf Choir last winter, and just getting to live with my best friends in Ytterboe, making amazing memories every night and forming bonds that will never be broken.” — Ann Ambach, psychology major with a concentration in management studies

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf is the last International Night we had before the pandemic (I did not know It was going to be the last one). I sang a Sudanese song to express my solidarity with the Sudanese revolution. Although most of the crowds did not understand the song, they all cheered me on to show their support. This was an unforgettable moment!” — Weema Madani, biology major with a concentration in neuroscience

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf might have to be opening night of “What You Will.” I directed and adapted the piece, and it was such a joy to watch the actors thrive and to have my amazing friends from all over campus come out to support me! I’ll always be grateful for the people I’ve gotten to work with and the friends I’ve come to call family here at Olaf!” — Hadley Evans Nash, theater major with a concentration in women’s and gender studies

“My favorite memories from St. Olaf have been spending time playing rugby and traveling with the St. Olaf Women’s rugby team. Whether it was a long drive to Duluth for an away game, or celebrating at the end of our season with the rugby banquet, my teammates and I always had so much fun. I’m so grateful for the connections the rugby team helped me make, and the memories that will always shape my time at St. Olaf.” — Chloe Joy, history and women’s and gender studies major

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf has been navigating these uncertain times with my buds. Even though we haven’t been able to do some of the things we were able to do in the past, we’ve still been able to make new memories that I am sure we will never forget.” — Nathan Pelant, economics major with an emphasis in finance

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf was studying abroad in New Zealand/Australia. Specifically, our time spent at Mount Aoraki/Cook. It was so beautiful and I got to explore with some amazing friends/people.” — Rose Sandell, political science and environmental studies major

“My favorite times at St Olaf were traveling with the alpine ski team for races. But I especially loved our Thanksgiving camp every year where we got to train together as a team in Vail, Colorado. I’ll miss the team leaving St Olaf.” — Anna Trenary, psychology major with a concentration in neuroscience

“My favorite memories from my time at St. Olaf are the quiet moments when I walk back to my dorm after a long day of classes and I am greeted with a beautiful sunset stretching across the sky.” — Amy Imdieke, chemistry and English major

“I have two distinct favorite memories from my time at St. Olaf. The first would be the Theater in London trip in January of 2020 led by professor Jon Naito. I met amazing people, saw incredible theater shows, and had so much fun exploring London and Oxford! My second memory would be participating in Improv Club for the past four years. I made some of my closest friends through that club and our shows were always a highlight of my year.” — Mallory Lindahl, English and music major

“My favorite memories at St. Olaf have been with my teammates on the tennis team. My sophomore year we got to go to Florida for spring break and it was a blast to play tennis in the warm sun and go to the beach and Epcot with my teammates. Eating ice cream together every night was also a huge plus.” — Sophie Mariano, exercise science major

“My favorite memory in college was when I studied abroad in Australia. From camping in national parks to fitting 13 people in a small hot tub, every day was new and exciting. However, the memories I will miss most are the small, day-to-day moments I’ve shared with my friends on campus. I will miss Friday movie nights, late night conversations, early morning workouts and karaoke dance parties. But mostly I’m going to miss all my friends who made St. Olaf feel like home.” — Phine Mejias, biology major

“Giving one favorite memory is so so hard when there are so many on the Hill!! I think my favorites are an accumulation of all the small memories with friends including caf meals that last too long, late nights studying, other nights playing games, sports and intramurals, and seeing so many friendly faces around campus on a daily basis!!” — Alex Wolner, biology major

“My favorite memories from St. Olaf are from the training trips we took to Fort Lauderdale as a team. From training in the International Swimming Hall of Fame pool to the trips to Cheesecake Factory on golf carts, I always felt closer to my teammates after the trip.” — Anna Lance, nursing major

“Some of my favorite memories include performing with all my friends, getting dressed up for Pres Ball, and my Interim trip to Holden Village in 2019. I’m so grateful for our time together building igloos, having late night dance parties, and I’ll even miss playing card games during the 40-hour train ride!” — Tamsin Olson, individual major in musical theater: interdisciplinary performance

“My favorite memory is living on a yacht for three nights and four days in the Galapagos Islands for the Equatorial Biology Interim trip in January 2021.” — Leslie Xiong, biology major with a pre-medicine track

“Spending Interim in Norway my junior year. It was all the events and people wrapped into one that makes it such a great memory.” — Ariel Byerly, political science and Norwegian major with a concentration in family studies and Nordic studies

“I am so grateful for the close friendships I’ve been able to form at St. Olaf. My favorite memories include walks in the Natural Land, trivia nights, trips to downtown Northfield, and nights in with the pod.” — Amelia Cichoski, English and economics major with a concentration in statistics and data science

“Some of my favorite memories from St. Olaf come from Ole Orchestra’s trip to Norway, where we bonded while performing and traveling together. One of the best nights was a home stay in Snåsa — our host family was so kind, and after a concert, we spent the evening around the fire eating pølse, wearing sweaters and socks our host mom had made, admiring the space around us, and talking until early morning.” — Jessica Folson, violin performance major

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf was bringing Denzel Curry for our junior year fall concert. I’ve been on MEC all four years and this by far was my favorite concert. Denzel played Ninja with the whole committee, the show was sold out and so fun, and then some of us talked to him after the show about life and movies for hours.” — Juliana Goldman, economics major with concentrations in environmental studies and management

“My favorite memory is either my study abroad Interim to India — it was such an amazing experience to explore the country with other Oles and learn about different religions through experiencing them — or being a member of the cross country and track teams the last four years. Especially running with my fellow seniors and racing in the snow (in swimsuits) my junior year!” — Rebekah Crail, religion major with a concentration in race and ethnic studies

“My favorite memories from St. Olaf revolve around time spent with my friends. I am especially fond of our Saturday morning breakfasts and study sessions in Old Main, and the many laughs and stories we shared together.” — Ingrid Nelson, exercise science and German major

“My favorite memory at St Olaf is the frosty mornings during Interim when the fog freezes and makes the trees sparkle and gleam. It is truly one of the most beautiful and magical sights ever.” — Abby Stone, political science major with a concentration in race and ethnic studies

“It was so exciting to play in the St. Olaf Orchestra at Christmas Fest. It is incredible to be able to make music on that grand of a scale for so many people who come from all over.” — Annika Seager, violin performance major

“It’s hard to pick just one memory from four years on the Hill. Some of my favorite memories are with the Cross Country team having long run conversations, team dinners, dancing in the locker room, and laughing until we can’t breathe.” — Tayler Paulsen, biology major

“This past fall I was able to study abroad at the Oregon Extension near Ashland, Oregon. This picture is from our trip to the Oregon coast. We visited Redwoods state park, camped within walking distance of the ocean, went tidepooling at midnight, stargazed on the beach, and (most memorably) dug a hole in the sand big enough for all 27 of us plus 2 dogs to fit into simultaneously. It was an unforgettable experience.” — Gwen Hughes, environmental studies and math major

“I will always treasure memories of playing in the St. Olaf Orchestra, including our tour to Norway (where we played for the king!), our premiere at Carnegie Hall, Christmas Fests and home concerts, and getting to know an incredible group of friends.” — Rachel Wyffels, music and religion major

“Some of my favorite memories from St. Olaf come from being involved in theater productions through Deep End Student Theater and the theater department. One of my favorite shows to be in during my time here was Jesus Christ Superstar — we had an amazing cast full of wonderful, talented people and we had so much fun putting it together!” — Claire Correll, theater, mathematics, and education major

While I have a lot of great memories from my time at St. Olaf, the best of all center around this group of people who I’ve been lucky to call my friends since my freshman year. My favorite memories would have to be playing a copious amount of Just Dance together, late night Taco Bell runs, and way too intense games of Settlers of Catan.” — Angie Kein, chemistry major

“My favorite memories will always be of friend-group shenanigans, whether we were off on an adventure at Nerstrand, dressing up for a pod theme night, or when my roommate and I yelled incoherently through the sink drain at 11:00 p.m. on a Monday night to convince others that there were ghosts in the pod (a foolproof plan).” — Bronwynn Woodsworth, mathematics major with concentrations in linguistics and race and ethnic studies

“My favorite St. Olaf memory is my first year in the Environmental Conversations program. Being an international student, joining this conversation made me part of a group of people that hold the same environmental values which made it easier and gave me the confidence for me to adapt faster. I made my closest friends here and those bonds have held for all of my four years on the Hill.” — Terence Kwok Choon, economics and political science major with a concentration in international relations

“My favorite memories from St. Olaf are my study abroad experiences in England as well as all the wonderful times with my close friends on campus, from dinners in the caf to pod dress-up nights to supporting one another at performances and events. I am endlessly grateful for the friendships I formed at St. Olaf that have given me so much love, laughter, and support throughout my four years here. My friends are what have truly made St. Olaf home for me, and I know they will continue to be one of the most important parts of my life long after graduation.” — Anna Barnard, English and religion major with a concentration in women’s and gender studies

“I can’t think of one favourite memory but I can think of people who have been my favourite part of St. Olaf! So much of what I have enjoyed here over the years has been through joining executive teams of organizations and implementing different programs with them! Amid the late nights, long meetings, booking logistics, stressing ’til the last minute, and finally seeing it all come together — I did not realize how many beautiful friendships I walked out with! I will particularly miss my Diversity Initiatives Support Committee and Celebrate South Asia! teams. Finding community at a new place can be hard, but I was lucky enough to find these spaces to grow and challenge myself in!” — Khatidja Hussein Jiwani, biology and psychology major with a concentration in neuroscience

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf is hanging out around campus with friends … and playing golf with friends … and hanging around playing campus golf with friends.” — Jasmine Alvarado, Spanish and education major with a concentration in linguistics

“A few of my favorite memories from St. Olaf have come from studying abroad in Greece and Rome with some of my closest friends. As a classics major, having the opportunity to visit all the famous sites and museums brought my studies to life. The early mornings, long bus rides, many gelato stops, and all the laughter are part of what made studying abroad a highlight of my time at St. Olaf.” — Kara Anderson, classics and history major

“My favorite memories at St. Olaf are all from dancing. I loved putting together a flash mob in the caf last year with my friends, 8 a.m. ballet class with live piano accompaniment, and performing in the CompanyDance shows. I’m thankful to have met my best friend through the dance department and for all the classes and rehearsals we spent together.” — Ellie Kiihne, psychology and dance major with concentrations in neuroscience and German studies

“There are too many memories to choose one favorite, but a common theme is SO much laughter. Whether it was through late nights spent hammocking, surprise birthday celebrations, or just general roommate shenanigans, my friends filled years at St. Olaf with joy.” — Emily Rennhak, social studies education and sociology/anthropology major

“My favorite memories from St. Olaf all happened in the Natural Lands. I have taken countless walks, during which I have bonded with many people who became my friends and support system here in college. I find it special and unique that I can take a trail behind any dorm or academic building and soon find myself immersed in a completely different surrounding full of bird songs, pine and birch trees, and small and large ponds. The Natural Lands provided me and many others with a momentary separation from the stress of academic and residential life.” — Skye Nguyen, English as a second language education major

“One of my favorite memories is the weekend spent in Kyoto during Asian Conversation Interim program in 2018. My group explored Japan, visited temples, and played Pokémon GO. Along the way of ordering food in a different language, navigating the Japanese subway, and late nights exploring Kyoto, we created unforgettable memories and lasting friendships.” — Ling O’Donoghue, Chinese and Asian studies major with a concentration in international relations

“My favorite memory is playing hockey and hanging out with teammates.” — Mary Kate Eiden, chemistry major with a concentration in women’s and gender studies

“All of my favorite memories from St. Olaf come from performing with the St. Olaf Handbell Choir. I loved performing in Christmas Fest and going on tour my junior year. I have made some of my closest friends through handbells and I’m so happy we still got to play together this year.” — Emma Bunde, classics major

“One of my favorite memories from my time at St. Olaf College was going to Holden Village on an Interim trip. I loved spending the month in the mountains skiing, knitting, and getting to know my classmates!” — Lauren Carlson, biology and psychology major with a concentration in neuroscience

“I have had the wonderful pleasure of being part of some really amazing teams that have fostered my sense of community and support for the things, and people, I care about. From my admissions and Piper Center teams to Karibu and Hostile Terrain 94. Very grateful for their contribution to my time at St. Olaf College.” — Kgomotso Magagula, sociology/anthropology, psychology, and race and ethnic studies major

“Some of my favorite St. Olaf memories have been touring with the St. Olaf Choir, getting Cage meals with friends, and getting to make incredible music and art with amazing people.” — Eli Aronson, vocal performance major

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf was making amazing lifelong friends! ❤️” — Lori Tran, psychology major with concentrations in family studies and education

“My favorite memory at St Olaf is the frosty mornings during Interim when the fog freezes and makes the trees sparkle and gleam. It is truly one of the most beautiful and magical sights ever.” — Abby Stone, political science major with a concentration in race and ethnic studies

“My favorite memory is going to the first Pause dance with my TRIO gang.” — Kiara Jones, American studies major with a management studies concentration

“Our pod comes from a diverse range of regions around the world, but we have come together to form a small family away from home. This picture was during one of our podmate’s birthdays which is one way we all come together and grow as a family.” — Lahiri Naikwad, biology major

“My favorite memory is attending regattas with the Rowing Club.” — Edwin Le, biology major with a concentration in neuroscience

“St. Olaf is the best.” — Cameron Goebel, history major

“My favorite memory was all the dance parties we had over our four years!” — Gretchen Olson, biology major with a concentration in women’s and gender studies

“One of the most memorable experiences I have had during my four years at St. Olaf was spending a semester at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, during the spring semester of my junior year. I was able to live out my dream of being abroad in a location with incredible student culture, breathtaking hiking spots, eventful road trips, and an opportunity to enhance my perspective through meeting incredible people during a challenging period of my life. Wouldn’t trade my time in this country for anything!” — Morgan Marxer, kinesiology major with a concentration in management studies

“There are too many memories to have one favorite — but — my friend group and I have a tradition of playing cards in Stav. We’d often combine as many tables as we could in order to have everyone fit! For Late Night Breakfasts, we’d get there a little after the crowd and be the last ones there still playing, throwing cards off the table, and shouting at each other competitively (in a loving way of course). There have been many late nights and over 1,000 games played together — we even have a spread sheet of wins! This is one of the things I’m going to miss most!!” — Lacy Williams, vocal performance and religion major

“So many beautiful memories at St. Olaf that it’s hard to choose just one! My fellow Oles are the reason I have such lovely memories and I am so thankful for that. A few highlights include dancing with M.I.X. hip hop dance club, studying abroad (London and CopenhagenI), and staying up a little too late after Pause dances ❤️.” — Emma Borkowski, English and studio art major with a concentration in media studies

“My favorite St. Olaf memory was during my Interim class that took place in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Some of us did a hike along the Kuli’ou’ou Ridge Trail on one of our free days, and it was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. We were muddy and exhausted by the end of it, but the views, conversations, and celebratory Dole Whip will never be forgotten!” — Salem Weitzenhoffer, vocal music education major

“My favorite memory is the 2019 Halloween Pause dance.” — Luke Everson, biology and environmental studies major with a concentration in mathematical biology

“It is hard to say what my single best memory is from St. Olaf but I am so lucky to have met wonderful friends here who I’ll never forget!” — Carolyn Hanrahan, environmental studies major

“It is hard to pick just one memory when I have had so many over my four years on the Hill. I have loved being a part of the golf team and competing with other MIAC schools, but some of my favorite memories have been supporting other Ole athletes and cheering them on!” — Dani Palmen, economics major with an emphasis in finance

“My favorite memories are of our group theme nights in Ytterboe. Thank you for four wonderful years, 3rd floor Kildahl ladies!!” — Maddy Lamers, history major with a concentration in management studies

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf has been traveling to tournaments and playing frisbee with my best friends on Vortex, the Women’s Ultimate team. A specific tournament that stands out to me was D3 nationals my sophomore year (2019) in College Station, TX. My teammates and I worked so hard all year and took first in the conference to qualify for the national tournament, then broke seed by a lot once we got to TX and took 3rd place overall. We played in some pretty high temperatures over the course of the weekend at nationals but that never stopped us from grinding through points, dancing on the sidelines, and cheering each other on which is why I love this team so much.” — Olivia Peer, social work major with a concentration in race and ethnic studies

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf was my sophomore year Interim course Religions of India. I loved the camaraderie of our small class and made many happy memories that I will cherish throughout my life.” — Zofie, economics major with a concentration in German studies

“My favorite memories of St.Olaf include cultural shows like Omkara. It is the teams I get to bind and work with that give this place such a sense of community and make me realize how my support system held me.” — Rida Ali, studio art major with a concentration in management studies

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf was traveling to Estes Park, Colorado, for Interim of junior year. We spent the month immersed in nature and hiked a total of 113 miles! I met so many great people and saw lots of cool animals and landscapes.” — Annalise Sharpe, biology major with a concentration in environmental studies

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf is our M.I.X. first performance.” — Becky R. Webb, economics major with a concentration in management studies

“My favorite memory was playing Milky White in the Lyric Production of Into the Woods in 2019!” — Jenna Leonard, vocal music education major

“My favorite memory is the welcoming and send-off Piko ceremonies at Kamehameha Middle School in Honolulu, Hawai’i.” — Olivia Keske, studio art and education major with a concentration in Nordic studies

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf is the last International Night we had before the pandemic (I did not know It was going to be the last one). I sang a Sudanese song to express my solidarity with the Sudanese revolution. Although most of the crowds did not understand the song, they all cheered me on to show their support. This was an unforgettable moment!” — Weema Madani, biology major with a concentration in neuroscience

“There are too many awesome St. Olaf memories to count, but one of my favorites is qualifying and competing in the USCSA Alpine National Championships each year. My favorite year was in Jackson Hole, WY. The St. Olaf girls team placed 3rd overall out of teams from across the country after working hard the entire season. I’ll never forget the cheering squad that came out to watch us, including St. Olaf alumni that were still filled with Ole pride. I’m constantly meeting Oles out on the slopes each year, and I’m so thankful to be a part of the community!” — Skye Sonnega, economics major with a concentration in management studies

“I don’t think I can pick a favorite memory from St. Olaf BUT I can definitely say that these people (+ so many others) have changed me in the most beautiful ways and I’ll always be thankful for the immense amounts of love and support they have given me throughout these four years.” — Veronica Bejm, sociology/anthropology and race and ethnic studies major

“One of my favorite memories at St. Olaf would always be the sense of community that I felt with the members of Celebrate South Asia! Every year, our annual cultural show, Omkara, would bring so much excitement and enthusiasm for all of us in addition to the immense planning and late-night practices. In a way, all of the Omkara hustle and other CSA! events made me feel at home despite being thousands of miles away from my actual home.” — Poonam Rawat, biology and political science major

“Our favorite memory is meeting each other the summer before our first year.” — Pajaie Thao, race and ethnic studies and sociology/anthropology major; Bee Vang, nursing major; Jessie Sanchez, Asian studies, Japanese, and mathematics major; Leslie Xiong, biology major; and Faith Opakunle, sociology/anthropology major

“My favorite memories from my time at St. Olaf come from my time performing in music ensembles. I played in large ensembles, such as The St. Olaf Band and Chapel Choir, but one of my favorites was a clarinet quartet that I played with in the fall of my junior year.” — Jessie Camp, music and religion major

“My favorite memory is sitting in a cabin at the Weaver Dunes field station, watching VCR tapes and waiting to catch owls until 2 a.m.” — Matt Hallahan, environmental studies

“One of my favorite memories from St. Olaf is exploring the Great Wall of China while on Global Semester 2019. I made lifelong friendships while on Global, and am so grateful to have had the experience of a lifetime!” — Claire Walsh, religion major with a concentration in management studies

“My favorite memory is the Spring 2019 Pause Dance.” — Brendan Weed, psychology major with a concentration in neuroscience

“I met some of my best friends in September of my first year at St. Olaf. These past four years we have lived together, studied together, and traveled together. Last spring, I went abroad to Seville, Spain, with one of my best friends. We also were able to live in a house together our senior year, and go on a hiking trip during the prolonged Interim break this year.” — Grace Lindmark, economics major with a concentration in environmental studies

“I have no singular memory that is my favorite, but long drives and trips and conversations with my closest friends will be some of my most cherished moments.” — Kiernan Bartlett, music and environmental studies major

“Most of my favorite memories at Olaf are related to my friends and rugby teammates! From semi-planned road trips to see roadside attractions like giant cow statues, to playing the apple game and chocolate milk olympics, the last four years have meant a lot to me, even if some were more … weird than others.” — Teresa Kayser, sociology/anthropology and economics major with a concentration in race and ethnic studies

“I have so many great memories from St. Olaf but some of my favorites are from my experiences traveling across the country and the world with some of my very best friends. I will cherish all of the laughter-filled nights playing games, eating ice cream, signing and dancing, and finding spontaneous fun — and I am forever grateful for all of the love that these people have poured into my life!” — Laura Butka, biology and psychology major with a concentration in neuroscience

“I will always remember the meaningful music I experienced at St. Olaf, especially performing with my quartet on my senior recital. I’ve enjoyed two Interim trips where I taught music at an immersion school in Hawai’i and hiked, knit, and deconstructed Lutheran philosophies at Holden Village.” — Lauren Williams, instrumental music education

“My favorite St. Olaf memory is the St. Olaf Band’s tour to California in Jan/Feb of 2020. Our concert program that year was extraordinary, and we were able to play in so many beautiful halls, it was really moving. We also ate so much incredible food! That tour was the last time we were able to perform in front of a live audience before COVID, so it holds a very special place in my heart!” — Ava Bowman Thomas, Latin American studies and political science major

“My favorite memory from St. Olaf is the Interim trip I took sophomore year with the Great Conversations program. On this study abroad, our cohort explored London, Paris, Florence, and Rome, learning about the history of the Grand Tour, immigration and identity in Europe, museum ethics, and more. It was so meaningful to experience this adventure with other people who were as curious as I was. I definitely made lifelong friends. And I can’t overstate how amazing the food was; we ate everything from chana masala in Brick Lane to multiple rounds of tiramisu in Rome!” — Ruby Erickson, music and French major

“I’ve had so much fun being involved in music at St. Olaf these past few years! I’m so grateful for all the wonderful people I’ve met, and of all the things at St. Olaf, I think I’ll miss singing with them the most. One of my favorite memories from the Norway tour was exploring Trondheim at night and ending up at Nidaros Cathedral. This photo was taken around midnight — we were so far north that the sun didn’t set!” — Hannah Liu, political science and music major

“My favorite memories are getting to discover more of the world with my fellow Oles (peep those waffles from Belgium!) as well as the wonderful people I’ve gotten to meet along the way. I’m so grateful for all the people I’ve met and the wonderful experiences we’ve had whether on the Hill or not.” — Emily Helstrom, French and history major with a concentration in Middle Eastern studies

“I have no singular memory that is my favorite, but long drives and trips and conversations with my closest friends will be some of my most cherished moments.” — Kiernan Bartlett, music and environmental studies major

“Some of my favorite memories have been from studying abroad! I met some of my closest friends on an Interim trip to Greece and met people from all over the world during a semester abroad in Ireland. Having the opportunity to travel and learn in new ways and new places has been absolutely incredible!” — Chloe Hanstra, mathematics and classics major with a concentration in linguistics

“Getting sent home from Ecuador after the most amazing six weeks of my life.” — Josh King-Nobles, physics and mathematics major