Student profiles
THE DIFFERENCE IS...
We are proud of the accomplishments of our current students and young alumni. Take a moment to read about what these young people are doing and why they believe their Marquette education is helping them Be the Difference!
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Klingler College of Arts & Sciences
Kelsey Kowalewski, Senior
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Majors: English Literature and Classical Languages with a minor in Theology
Current Activities: Facilities Manager in Cobeen Hall; Senior Class President of the College of Arts & Sciences Student Council; Honors Program; Secretary of Eta Sigma Phi Classics Society; Alpha Sigma Nu Selection Committee; National Residence Hall Honorary; Sigma Tau Delta English Society
The Marquette Difference for Me: The sense of community and school pride; strong relationships with classmates, faculty, and mentors; the emphasis on incorporating Jesuit values into daily life
Career plans/goals: To pursue a master's degree and a career in student affairs, working with students in a university setting
Conor Sweeney, Klingler College of Arts and Sciences Class of 2007
Hometown: Fox Point, WI
Majors: Economics and International Affairs
Marquette Activities: Watumishi, People of Service; Two self-led service trips to Voi, Kenya; The Les Aspin Center for Government in Washington, D.C.; Summer Study Program in Xalapa, Mexico; MAP trip to Louisville Kentucky; IMAP trip to Kingston Jamaica; MU Representative on Opus Prize due diligence trip to Mumbai, India and Kisumu, Kenya; Hunger Clean-Up Planning Team; Raynor Scholar; Honor's Program; Alpha Sigma Nu; Phi Beta Kappa; Singer in "Street Fighting Men" and "Guy's Night at Murphy's"
The Marquette Difference for me: Marquette provides students with a community that fosters the growth of the complete person. Faculty, friends, and mentors challenged me to think critically, to confront the problems facing this world, to examine my set of beliefs, and to uncover my passions. Most importantly, Marquette equipped me with the tools needed to meet these challenges.
Current Activities: Working on the staff of Congressman Paul Ryan.
Career Plans/Goal: I'm looking to blend my passions for economics, public policy, and international affairs at both the graduate school level and into the real world.
Diederich College of Communication
Allie Craft, Senior
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Major: Broadcast and Electronic Communications, minor in Marketing
Marquette Activities: General Manager of Marquette University Television; Member of the Honors Program;
The Marquette Difference for me: The camaraderie among students; the dedicated alumni network, and the fantastic broadcasting facilities available to students
Career Plans/Goal: Start my own production company, producing commercials and short documentaries.
Jacqueline Palank, Diederich College of Communication, Class of 2007
Hometown: Menomonee Falls, WI
Majors: Journalism, Political Science
Marquette activities: Marquette Tribune, three years (MUSG reporter 03-04, campus news editor 04-05, managing editor 05-06), Les Aspin Center for Government (fall 2006), Society of Professional Journalists--Marquette campus chapter (03-06), Alpha Sigma Nu (07)
The Marquette difference for me: Getting hands-on experience in journalism right away as a college freshman, great faculty, and the chance to intern and study in Washington, D.C.
Current activities: First-ever David E. Rosenbaum reporting intern at The New York Times' bureau in Washington, D.C.
Career plans/goals: Washington reporter; author.
College of Health Sciences
Jasmine Zapata, Junior
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Major: Biomedical Sciences with minors in Psychology and Biology
Current Activities: Marquette Track and Field Team, Burke Scholars Program, Honors Program, Educational Opportunity Program, Sexual Assault Treatment Center (Aurora Sinai Hospital) volunteer patient advocate, Lloyd Street Elementary School Volunteer, Neurodegenerative Disease research in Biomedical Sciences Department (Dr. Lobner), Northside Church of God Youth Department Counselor, Community Service Coordinator of Christian Fellowship of Marquette, EOP Biology/Chemistry/Organic Chemistry Tutor, Member of Global Medical Relief (Honduras)- MU Chapter, Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-med/pre-dent honor society, and American Medical Student Association-MU Chapter
The Marquette Difference for me: Strong emphasis on serving the community, exceptional medical school preparation through the Biomedical Sciences Department, urban location, spiritual nature of the university
Career Plans/Goals: Earn an MD degree, open my own clinic, as well as volunteer to provide medical care in different countries
Lucky Denenga, College of Health Sciences, Class of 2005 and 2007
Major: B.S. in Exercise Science; Doctor of Physical Therapy
Hometown: Harare, Zimbabwe
Marquette Activities: Resident Assistant (2 years), South Hall Facilities Manager (2 years), 4 year member of track and field team, Track and Field Captain Senior Year, Office Assistant: Exercise Science for 6 years
The Marquette Difference for me : The personal approach by the faculty in the PT program and the clinical approach that prepares us well for the PT field. Student activities in the residence halls and the focus on striving for excellence as well as community service.
Current Activities: Working as an Outpatient-orthopedic staff physical therapist.
Career Plans/Goals: Certification in Women's Health and Manual Therapy, yearly trips to Southern Africa to help with rehabilitation services (orthopedics, pediatrics and women's health)
School of Education
Steve Ryan, Senior
Hometown: Hinsdale, Illinois
Major: History and Secondary Education
Current Activities: President of the School of Education Student Council, Manresa Project Student Advisory Board Member, Teaching Assistant, Phi Alpha Theta; History Honor Society, and National Residence Hall Honorary Member.
The Marquette Difference for me: The other students and the long lasting friendships that I have formed with them; the student centered and committed faculty; the sense of giving back to community through service; experiences outside the classroom in extracurricular activities
Career Plans/Goal: After graduation, I plan to be teaching high school history Eventually, I think I will go back to school and pursue a graduate degree in Educational Administration and move to the administrative side of education, something that has always intrigued me.
Lauren Joseph, Class of 2006
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Major: English and Elementary Education
Marquette Activities: Alumni Assistant in the Admissions Office, Vice President and Director of Membership for Gamma Sigma Sigma- National Service Sorority, Service Learning
The Marquette Difference for me: A thorough preparation and training for teaching from highly qualified and caring professionals. Friends that became my family away from home.
Current Activities: Second year graduate student in the Masters of Education and Special Education Licensure Program at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio; 4th grade teacher at St. Joseph's Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio.
Career Plans/Goal: To continue as an educator and to become licensed as a special education teacher and intervention specialist.
College of Engineering
College of Nursing
Kathleen Falk, Senior
Hometown: Fox Point, Wisconsin
Major: Nursing and Spanish for the Health Professions
Marquette Activities: Marquette University tour guide, retreat leader for the freshmen retreat, volunteer in the HOT unit (hematology/oncology/transplant unit) at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Global Medical Relief-MU (Medical mission trip to Honduras), BSO fashion show participant
The Marquette Difference for me: The people, the community, & the opportunities. Marquette is a place where I feel welcomed by everyone, where I have endless opportunities to serve others, explore my passions & my faith, and where the faculty & university as a whole challenge me to excel both inside & outside the classroom.
Career Plans/Goal: to work as a pediatric nurse and eventually go on to graduate school to get my masters degree to be a pediatric nurse practitioner. Ideally, I would love to specialize in either pediatric hematology/oncology or intensive care and be able to use my Spanish degree in a hospital that serves the marginalized, vulnerable, and minority populations.
Timothy Kummer, Class of 2007
Hometown: Manitowoc, WI
Major: Nursing
Marquette Activities: Women's Basketball Team, practice squad; Golden Eagle Mascot; Tuesday night mass at Joan of Arc Chapel; 10:00 Mass at Chapel of Holy Family; University Ministry representative on Board of Trustees; Manresa Scholar; MAP; Intramurals; Noon-Run; HIV immersion weekend; Hunger Clean-Up; Liturgical Choir; Gospel Choir; Watumishi (Co-Founder); CommUNITY; Al McGuire Ticket office employee; Orientation Student Coordinator; Orientation Assistant; MU Tour Guide; Bicycle and Fitness Company employee.
The Marquette Difference for me: was that Marquette not only pushed me academically, and believe me it did, but it provided me a place where I could explore who I was and what I stood for. Marquette became my family that helped make me the person I am today. Marquette showed me that being a Marquette student is more than going to school; it is a way of life. It is about being an active member of my many communities from Marquette to Milwaukee to Kenya. Marquette challenged me when I needed to be challenged, prayed for me when I needed prayer, supported me when I needed support, and loved me when I needed love.
Current Activities: Working as an ER nurse at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Milwaukee for the next few years.
Career Plans/Goal: After gaining some experience and practice, I plan to volunteer abroad, specifically in either Kenya, Uganda or the Sudan.
