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Oles urge current students to seek even higher education

By Le Ann Finger '85
November 17, 2004

St. Olaf College hosted a graduate school panel this winter dedicated to Undergraduate Scholars Program participants. The panel included five outstanding graduate scholars of color - four who completed their undergraduate education at St. Olaf College and one at Princeton University. The panel provided the opportunity for students interested in attending graduate school to learn more about the panelists' journeys and experiences.

"This panel supports one of the missions of the strategic plan," said St. Olaf President Chris Thomforde. "We want to be more inclusive and recruit students of color to St. Olaf. By bonding together and talking with one another we can see the benefits of attending graduate school and hope to encourage our graduates to enter the college teaching profession."

Panelists included Adam Bad Wound '02, an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. Bad Wound spoke about his decision to attend St. Olaf College and the encouragement he received to consider attending graduate school upon graduation. He went on to earn a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University and is currently working on his Ph D. at Stanford. Bad Wound encouraged students to set goals for themselves. "Don't seek approval in acceptance letters from grad schools," he says. "Instead be happy with who you are and what you've accomplished."

Another panel member, Mario Paez, who graduated from St. Olaf with a degree in economics and a finance emphasis, went on to Harvard Business School. Paez praised the mentors who helped him at St. Olaf. "The mentorship provided to me was outstanding," said Paez. "The faculty provided great nurturing for the tiny seed that was me."

Melissa Roberts '93 graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Social Work in 1997, concentrating on child welfare. Roberts' interest in social work and research brought her back to St. Olaf this year as an adjunct faculty member in the social work program. She currently teaches "Methods and Skills of Social Work," which introduces students to the science and art of social work practice. "I never thought I'd be interested in research or teaching," she said. "I discovered my passion for both of those areas in graduate school."

Nick Wallace '02, originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., graduated with a triple major in Asian studies, political science and religion. Wallace, who served as St. Olaf student body president, is currently pursuing a law degree at the University of Minnesota Law School. Wallace is also serving as student body president of his law school class and will graduate in 2005 with degrees in law and public policy. "Never be ashamed or afraid of not fitting in," he said. "Law school has given me a sense of purpose."

The Undergraduate Scholars Program (USP) is one of the college's most recent initiatives aimed at building an inclusive community. Sponsored by the office of Community Life and Diversity in collaboration with the Dean's Office, Multicultural Affairs and Community Outreach (MACO) and Student Support Services Program (SSSP), the goal is to encourage students to consider a teaching career in higher education. Services and activities of the program help participants become strong competitors for admission into competitive graduate programs, assistantships and fellowships.

Contact Le Ann Finger at 507-786-3416 or finger@stolaf.edu.