2021 Fall The Honorable Mention

THE HO NOR ABLE MENTION MENTIONING WESTMINSTER HONORS COLLEGE STUDENTS SINCE 2002 Elhom Gosink (She/Her), graduate enrollment coordinator, stands on campus. Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter. Why alumni contribute to the Honors community BY NICOLE KLONIZOS AND MARIAH TRUJILLO The Westminster Honors college aspires to be a strong community of lifelong learners. As members of the community, students can connect with each other through interdisciplinary coursework, social and academic events, and the peer mentoring program. For some students, even after they have graduated, they continue to contribute and be a part of the Westminster and Honors communities. For Westminster staff members Mackenzie Bledsoe (’17) and Elhom Gosink (’17), contributing to the college’s community is something they have made a priority. Honors alum Elhom Gosink, who now works in graduate program admissions for mental health counseling and nursing and health sciences, is one such person who has come back to contribute. When Gosink began her college search, she only looked into schools with honors colleges, having been a part of honors programs her whole life with only a two-year gap in second and third grade. “I didn’t know what it was like to not be in an honors college,” Gosink said. “My whole family is PhDs, doctors, researchers, so it was just the kind of standard expectations growing up.” She selected Westminster’s Honors college because it was not divided like many Honors programs are with separate degree programs and residential buildings. Here, the Honors community is integrated into Westminster’s campus. During her time as a political science major, Gosink loved that the Honors faculty also taught many of her degree courses. Continued on page 4 PAGE EIGHT our seniors PAGE Where are headed: Postgraduate plans SIX · · Fall 2021 Volume 20 Issue 1 Student and Professor Profile: Kirsten Sumampong and Julie Kamenetzky 6 Honors people, 6 unique interests BY ACACIA JACKSON Kristjane Nordmeyer Kristjane Nordmeyer is a sociology and gender studies professor and she loves cats. She has loved cats ever since she was a child. Growing up, Nordmeyer always had lots of cats around her house and she spent most of her time with them. As she got older she learned how to care for the cats around her and meet their needs. Now she spends her time with her two cats at home and Kirstjane Nordmeyer (She/Her), caring for the community professor of sociology, wears a sweater cats in her neighborhood. with bright pink cats in her office Although simply located in Foster Hall. Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter having cats has enriched Nordmeyer’s life (as they are wonderful company), she also says, “I’ve developed many longterm friendships by collaborating and working with people in the cat community. Cats are my people and people in the cat community are my people too.” Her love for cats also throws her into other hobbies—over the summer Nordmeyer built her two senior cats a “catio” so they could enjoy their backyard while being safely sheltered. Nordmeyer also shares her love of cats with our community through teaching the class Cats in Society: Meow or Never, which focuses on cat-centered living and supporting community cats. You can always find her wearing clothing with cats on them and her signature cat earrings. “However, if you have that draw to the ocean, that desire to go and try to harness the water and direct yourself with it, surfing might just be the thing to set you free.” “Surfing, I will admit, is not for everyone. However, if you have that draw to the ocean, [...] surfing might just be the thing to set you free.” Cavin Meadows (’25) Kat Johnson Kat Johnson (’21) is a Westminster alum who graduated with a degree in elementary education and a minor in outdoor education and leadership. She spends her time working in a Residential Treatment Center and as a substitute teacher. Johnson also performs with her band Seasonal Regression. Seasonal Regression is composed of other Westminster students: Dante Kat Johnson (She/Her), and her Clavere, Jake Wagoner, and band Seasonal Regression, perform Taylor Baum. You might on campus during the Welcome Back Block Party. have seen them play in this Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter semester’s ‘Roast n Toast.’ The band’s initial formation actually had its roots in the Honors college. One serendipitous day in Arts and Performance, Johnson and Baum were randomly paired together and hit it off. In that day’s class, they decided to form a band. Johnson started off wanting to write songs for the band but eventually became the lead singer for Seasonal Regression. Although Johnson has other jobs currently, her dream would be to play in her band with her best friends and tour for the rest of her life. If you would like to support her band, you can listen to their music on Spotify or keep a look out for their next oncampus show. Cavin Meadows Cavin Meadows (’25) is a first-year student studying international business. Meadows first started surfing at the age of 12 while he was attending school in Lima, Peru. Having always loved the ocean, he fell in love with the sport. His school would spend one day a week teaching students how to surf. The first time that Meadows surfed, a baby seal and its family swam around his legs. That moment is one that he looks back on and sees as pure magic. Surfing hasn’t always been perfect for Meadows. In fact, one time Meadows’ friend Jake had to save his life. Despite surfing’s periodic tumultuous moments, Meadows has never found a better community of friends and experiences. He and his friends still call themselves the ‘Fedora Bros’ and look forward to the next time they can all surf together. “Surfing, I will admit, is not for everyone,” Meadows said. Anthony Giorgio 2 Anthony Giorgio (’22) is a senior communication major and Legacy Scholar who loves to create movies. He started producing movies at age 15 with his best friend Austin and later their friend Paige. They quickly came up with their production company’s name: Wandering Productions. Throughout the years, they have worked on many short films and productions for local businesses and high schools. Wandering Productions even managed and produced Ben Raskins’ upcoming campaign. Even though their lives get busy with school and careers, they always make a Anthony Giorgio (He/Him) and point to celebrate the day Austin Overmoe, two of Wandering Productions business partners, are on they decided to start creating set. Left to Right: Anthony Giorgio, movies. Austin Overmoe. Currently, Giorgio and his Photo courtesy of Adam Overmoe friends are working on a short film called “A Full House.” Giorgio said that Wandering Productions is going to try to screen the film nearby over this winter break, so keep an eye out for it! After the last 18 months, Felix makes a point to write five positive things in her journal every day. Lienne Cupal Lienne Cupal (’22) is a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology. She loves to rock climb and has been competing since she was nine years old. Both of her parents are avid climbers and met each other while her mom was a guide in the Grand Tetons. So, it only seems natural that Cupal would adore the sport. At the age of 18 Lienne started coaching children at Momentum Indoor Climbing Gym for national competitions. She coaches children anywhere from 6–17 years old and guides them on the best ways to climb and how to have stewardship of the land and rocks they climb on. “Climbing is the perfect blend of physical and mental,” Cupal said. “While I think a lot of people conceptualize climbing as a predominantly physical activity, the mental component of figuring out sequences, movement types, and body positioning has kept me captivated as both a participant and a coach throughout all these years.” Cupal has found an amazing community in the climbing world that she describes as welcoming and tight-knit. She prefers to climb outdoors and her favorite spot in the world to climb is Wild Iris in Wyoming. Now Cupal brings her love for climbing into her Lienne Cupal (She/Her) lead climbs academic world through outside. her research on gender and Photo courtesy of Kamryn Cupal masculinity studies. Madeleine Felix Madeleine Felix (’25) is a first-year student studying business management who hopes to become an antitrust lawyer. She also loves to journal. Her first journal was gifted to her in the second grade on Easter by her mom. At the time, she mostly used the pages for stickers and drawings of birds. However, now she uses them to explore her inner child and express little moments in her day. Sometimes she will go on hikes with friends and at the mountain’s peak, they will press flowers, draw, and journal together. During lockdown last year, Felix journaled so much that at one point she went through two journals in three weeks. 2 0 2 0-2 0 2 1 KA THE R INE ME T CAL F NE L S ON A NNU A L WR IT ING AWAR DS Award One (Humanities) Welcome to Thinking I, II & III Saydi Anderson, “Wandering Through Grief” Award Two (Science) Science as Knowledge; Science, Power, & Diversity Katie Valdez, “The Limitations of Modern Objectivity: How Modern Science Can Overcome Bacon’s Idols of the Mind as Demonstrated in the Film Arrival” Award Three (Social Science) Global Welfare & Justice; Human Culture & Behavior; Data/Society/Decision-Making Lienne Cupal, “The Power of Being Unquestioned” Award Four (Arts) Arts in Performance; Environments & the Space of Art Sophie Caligiuri, “Write Home While You’re at War: Urban Graffiti as a Response to Conflict”* *Best Essay Award Winner 3 Continued from page 1 In her experience, connections with faculty were key to her received a lot of support, and began to feel like she had found success as a first-year student. Like many first-year students, her place in the Westminster community. Gosink was overwhelmed as she began her first classes, yet This transition from student to staff member is an experience luckily, she confided in her professor Leonardo Figueroa- that is shared by Mackenzie Bledsoe. Helland. Bledsoe graduated from Westminster College with a degree “I went to Leo’s office,” Gosink explained. “And I said, ‘I in neuroscience and an Honors certificate. Even before formally don’t know what’s happening, I’m confused, I’m freaking out.’” enrolling at Westminster, she was drawn to the community After she shared her stress, Figueroa-Helland and Gosink and discussion-based classroom environment that the Honors walked around campus, got coffee, and talked about her life college encourages. rather than focusing on academics. After their conversation, he She said that before coming to Westminster, she was able to told her, “you are going to be fine.” That became her mantra sit in on an Honors class and that she was “very intrigued by throughout the rest of college. the conversations that were going on in the classroom,” which After graduating from her undergraduate program, Gosink sealed the deal for her participation in the program. got a job working in the admissions office at Westminster with Her decision to stay in the Honors college during undergrad the intention of leaving shortly after to pursue her graduate was one that was influenced both by the collaborative classroom degree outside the United States. Instead, she stayed and environment and the relationships that she built within the completed her Master of Arts in Community Leadership while Honors community. These relationships continue to guide continuing her work for the college. Bledsoe in her roles on campus and in the larger community. Gosink has given back After graduating, to the Honors community Bledsoe decided to in a variety of ways since immediately return to graduating. work at Westminster in She performed many the Dumke Center for different roles on the Civic Engagement. While Westminster admissions still in her undergraduate team, such as serving as program, Bledsoe the Honors liaison where worked as a community she spent time recruiting, partnership coordinator planning marketing in the Dumke Center. strategies, and conducting Bledsoe’s relationship with interviews for scholarships. the Center began with a She has also served on the connection she had through Honors Council, which the Honors college. has a strong impact on the “My best friend, who I Mackenzie Bledsoe (She/Her), program coordinator for the Dumke Center for Civic direction of the Honors met in Honors, connected Engagement, stands outside near the Gore School of Business. college. me to the Dumke Center,” Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter Gosink contributes to Bledsoe said. She attributes Honors because she valued her own experiences so much as her decision to stay employed by the Dumke Center to its they shaped her life and career. director, Julie Tille, and the way that she has found meaning “That level of support completely changed my undergraduate in the work. [experience],” Gosink said. “I don’t think I would have had Currently, Bledsoe works as the program coordinator for nearly as robust an experience as I did or enjoyed it nearly the Dumke Center. One of the main service-oriented projects as much…if I had just been in my [major] program. And I that Mackenzie oversees as program coordinator is Walkways don’t want other people to miss that opportunity. I think it’s to Westminster. important to make sure that experience remains and grows for Walkways to Westminster employs students to work in more people.” schools across the Salt Lake valley and serve as mentors for Making the transition from student to alumni and staff youth grades 6–12. Employed students work as tutors, member was a little awkward. A few of her faculty thought that mentors, and advocates for the youth by encouraging them to she did not graduate because they saw her still on campus, not pursue higher education and sharing the tools that they need knowing she was now a staff member. Eventually, they figured to get there. it out. In her first years working at Westminster, Gosnik still Many of the Walkways mentors that Bledsoe supervises are knew many of the undergraduate students attending the current students in the Honors college. Bledsoe mentioned college. After all the students she was friends with graduated, how her time in the Honors college at Westminster gave her there was an important distinction. the tools she needed to succeed in her position. “The longer it’s been, the more it feels like I’m a staff member “My organization definitely translates from Honors to this first, and then a [former] student second,” Gosink said. job,” Bledsoe said, regarding how she is able to accomplish so It was difficult to juggle her many roles as an alum, graduate much in her position and oversee many different projects that student, and staff. Once everyone adjusted to her new role, she involve many students, both at Westminster and the outside 4 schools she coordinates with. Beyond just technical organizational skills, Bledsoe said that her “critical thinking definitely started from the Honors program.” Her position in a service-oriented role requires critical thinking and reflection for doing meaningful work. “Service is not simple, and we know that,” Bledsoe said. “I am constantly questioning everything around me, which I think is how it should be. Honors really provided me with a support system and a network of connections that is going to help me be the best me to serve my community.” Bledsoe applies these lessons from Honors in how she structures the work that she does on campus, by embracing collaboration with many different voices and building a community that is invested in supporting each other. Both Gosink and Bledsoe continue to support the Westminster community in ways that were influenced by their time in the Honors college. What are you going to do with that degree? BY SOPHIE CALIGIURI As a college student, if you have ever visited your great don’t think I’ve met a single person who has it all figured out.” aunt, run through the niceties at the checkout line in Smith’s In a society that glorifies five-step goals and fine-tuned Marketplace, driven a few miles home for Fall Break, or timelines, they both emphasize the importance of taking a break unintentionally caught up with an old “friend” running post-graduation to foster relationships, discover untapped errands, you’re probably familiar with the slightly back-handed talents, and to learn more about and simply be with one’s self. albeit famous question: “Oh...what are you planning on doing “In academia, when so much of our value is tied to our with that degree?” (Bonus points if delivered with the signature achievements, internships, and scholarships, we sometimes sympathetic yet confused closed mouth smirk). forget that we have value and deserve care just because we are Dodge Hovermale (‘22) and Dylan Richmond (‘23), resident human beings,” Richmond said. Westminster philosophy and English majors (respectively), are Hovermale and Richmond’s rejection of “A Plan” mentality all too familiar with this sort of interrogation. Interestingly, in favor of embracing unknown possibilities for their lives after they take differing stances. college speaks to the timeless Hovermale said their truth of the proverbial phrase “favorite way to answer that “know thyself ” (Hovermale “In academia, when so much of our value is tied to question is to say that [they] was right—philosophy our achievements, internships, and scholarships, love to do philosophy,” noting permeates everything!). we sometimes forget that we have value and in fact that they “can’t think of However, their insights a single part of life that isn’t breathe new life into this agedeserve care just because we are human beings.” informed by philosophy in old virtue. They teach us that some way.” maybe it really is not that Dylan Richmond (’23) On the other hand, important to know yourself Richmond said, “more often in your entirety; rather, it is than not, we don’t really do a important to search for parts whole lot with our degrees.” And, while Hovermale maintains of yourself that you have yet to encounter. Having a stringent that “philosophy is something that can be pursued outside of step-by-step mentality seems to hinder the possibility of finding a job and outside of academia,” Richmond asserts that “[their] yourself outside the box. major will help [them] work more creatively within whatever “The idea of life being a puzzle that needs to be solved instead job [they] might have.” of something to be experienced and explored is incredibly In spite of these contrasting viewpoints, Hovermale and depressing,” Richmond said, “and creates an expectation of Richmond both communicate passion for their fields of study, success that is just unattainable for so many people of our accompanied with confidence in the fact that no matter the generation.” For Hovermale, “being young involves so much capacity, they will continue to use their degree in a meaningful uncertainty and that’s wonderful in some ways.” way. These insights are applicable the next time one finds Yet, as Hovermale and Richmond both recognize, there themselves confronted by their preschool teacher in the produce is always a little bit more to the story. Beneath the facade of aisle. Before the words have even left their lips—“what are you intrigue that accompanies the “that degree” question is the gonna do with that”—the answer becomes clear. “Who cares?” expectation that twenty-something college students need to Hovermale and Richmond have taught us that these two have “A Plan” (which really means they need to have it all words are not apathetic by nature. Rather, they convey the together, preferably in an easily accessible Excel spreadsheet). limitless openness we face our future with when we disregard “I would say that it’s absolute crap,” Richmond said in the careful. The opposite of careful is not careless—it’s the response. Hovermale’s commentary follows a similar vein: “I freedom to find. 5 Where our seniors are headed: Postgraduate plans BY SHELBY VOLOSIN Graduation is an event in seniors’ lives that is both terrifying into a career path,” Hall said. “I tried bringing in other ideas, and invigorating at the same time. College first-years dream but I would always come back to medicine.” about graduation day and it comes faster than they can blink. Baum jokes that he has wanted to be a lawyer since he did not The general theme among want to be a rocket scientist (at a the current crop of Westminster very young age). After his gap year, College seniors is to take things Baum is heading to law school. He slowly and to truly reflect on the hopes to be somewhere in Oregon, past few years and where they hope studying environmental law. to go next. This decision was inspired by Sarah Hall (’22), a neuroscience the environmental economics class major on the pre-med track, is he took with Dr. John Watkins, an planning a gap-year to work in her economics professor who also cotargeted field. Taylor Baum (’22), teaches the Honors college seminar a philosophy major on the pre-law Global Welfare and Justice. track, is doing the same. “The reason I was drawn “[My gap-year] tentative plan so strongly to environmental is to get a job at the University of economics is because it puts Utah or work in an ambulance,” practices that we already use Sarah Hall (She/Her), a neuroscience major on a pre-med track, Hall said. “In conjunction with stands on campus. every day, like the practices of that, I hope to volunteer with local Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter the economy, into the perspective search and rescue of benefiting the teams or ski patrol.” environment,” Baum Baum’s first plan said, which he hopes “The emergence of wilderness medicine was a huge turning of action is running he can help with. away to Europe. Hall said that she point in my decision. The ability to work outdoors has always “Hotel bookings in is “planning on going been a dream and combining it with medicine seems like a certain places but no to medical school at perfect fit for me.” plans on how to get some point.” She had there,” Baum said. always planned on “The adventure is starting her graduate Sarah Hall (’22) figuring out how to studies right after get from point A to undergrad, but some point B.” personal medical In his time off issues changed those following his travels, Baum is not plans. certain about the jobs he might Now, she has “decided to pursue outside of the legal field. enjoy senior year, focus on “I would love to see myself academics, and use (her) gap year working in a music store, though,” to get additional experience in Baum said. “I’m really into music.” the medical field.” Her ultimate Though Hall and Baum did not career goal is to go into wilderness finalize their post-grad decisions and emergency medicine. until about a year ago, they both “The emergence of wilderness have known for a while what they medicine was a huge turning want to do. Hall said that working point in my decision,” Hall said. in medicine has always been in the “The ability to work outdoors back of her mind since she was has always been a dream and Taylor Baum (He/Him), a philosophy major on a pre-law track, sits young. combining it with medicine seems “I never wanted to box myself in Richer Commons. like a perfect fit for me.” Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter 6 Where a past leader is today BY SOPHIE CALIGIURI Former student body president Maggie Regier (’20) graduated from Westminster and the Honors college in the middle of a global pandemic and entered the workforce the very same year. They are an example of the notion that everything comes full circle. After graduation, they returned to Westminster with a fresh diploma to fulfill the position of manager of alumni engagement, noting excitedly that they “never left” the Westminster world. Regier said that returning to campus as a staff member made them “feel lucky to work with a community [they] know and love right out of college,” emphasizing that because she “already knew so much about the institution and most of [her] coworkers, it allowed [her] to jump right into the fun stuff.” Like most things though, there are multiple dimensions to life after graduation. Regier said that they “got hit with the double existential crisis—Covid and postgrad.” They further explain that they have “far more questions than answers and far less direction” but confidently conclude that they are “learning how to live [their] life for [themself ] and not for the expectations of others.” Regier’s certainty in their ability to learn to live is a testament to the fact that the conclusion of a college career is not the termination of education by any means. She exemplifies the importance of lifelong learning in multiple ways, emphasizing her re-discovered love of reading, philosophical inquiry, toying with new recipes, and writing. “No one told me just how much more time I would have after graduation,” Regier said. “At first it was overwhelming, but I am working on finding new hobbies,” proving that there are thousands of new things to fill your time with when you are not always thinking about formulas, thesis statements, and CV padders. As we approach the two-year mark of the advent of a global pandemic, many students are wrestling with the uncertainty regarding their futures. While the expectation seems to be pretty clear (graduate school, get a job, work, retire) many feel Maggie Regier (She/They), manager of alumni as if they have engagement, stands on campus. been thrown Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter back into the mix of society a little dazed and confused due to the events of the previous year. So, as the class of 2022 prepares capstone projects and plans graduation portraits, Regier offers some much-needed relatability. “No one really prepared me for how hard it is to face the world after graduation,” they said. “You start to dig into who you want to be, what relationships you want to cultivate, and what it means to find a job knowing you will most likely be working for the rest of your life.” With this reassurance, Regier also provides some advice for navigating life once the thrill of the commencement ceremony wears off. “Figure out what brings you joy,” they said. “Make more of that joy happen. You have the rest of your life to worry about the big steps and the big questions—take this as a chance to rest and take care of yourself.” If the past few years have taught anyone anything, it’s that everything is susceptible to change. Everything, including ourselves. The idea that we might change—or even that we are changing all the time, every minute—sometimes seems daunting. Dreadful, even. However, Regier confronts their changing self with an air of curiosity and contentment. “I’ve learned that I have way more to learn about both myself and the world,” they said. “I didn’t enjoy the things I thought I did and I have no idea who I am, but thank God I have an amazing community that has my back.” Maggie Regier (She/They), manager of alumni engagement, works in her office in the Adamson Alumni House. Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter 7 Student Profile: Kirsten Sumampong First-year dives head-first into the Honors community B Y VA N E S S A E V E L E T H Walking into Nunemaker, you might have met the new Westminster’s intimate community environment played a events coordinator for the Honors college. Kirsten Sumampong big role in her decision to attend the college: “I knew that (’25), a first-year student pursuing neuroscience, has already Westminster, like the Honors college specifically, would have established herself in Honors activities. Her immediate drawn in that same type of community,” Sumampong said. involvement is a sign of promise for what Sumampong might “Especially with [students] taking similar courses, yet still contribute to Westminster College. having different types of majors and different kinds of walks of “Through Sunday Study Nights, I’ve been life joining together for one cause.” able to really get involved with the Honors For Sumampong, the Peer Mentoring Program college,” Sumampong said. “And I’ve been able has highlighted and supported her transition to to see what happens behind the scenes with college. During New Student Orientation, it was Steph [Santarosa], Richard [Badenhausen], and important for Sumampong to “just have people Davor [Simunovic].” Sumampong also explained who were experienced and understood what it that she has enjoyed the opportunity to see her was like to be an incoming Honors student. But classmates outside of the academic sphere. “I get then, also, the opportunities that we’ve had to to know a little bit more about the Westminster kind of interact with [peer mentors] at Tuesday Kirsten Sumampong (She/Her), community.” Conversations, or even just in passing, [helps to] stands by Nunemaker. Being engaged is not a new concept for Photo courtesy Abigale Winter kind of know that you have someone to look out Sumampong. “In high school, I was really for you.” involved with basically everything,” Sumampong said. “I did Across campus, Sumampong hopes to stay involved. For one, campus life, which is equivalent to ASW, and I did Academy of she plans to engage with the Student Diversity and Inclusion Sciences and the Academy of Saints and Scholars.” Sumampong Center and to support the lacrosse program. “I definitely want grew up in Draper, Utah and went to Juan Diego Catholic to be involved with another campus job, in someplace that’s High School. totally not usual for me,” Sumampong said. “What that looks An interesting tidbit: Sumampong is not the first person in like I have no idea, but I feel like that might be a good way her family to attend Westminster. In fact, she has four siblings for me to see different types of people and also get involved in who can call themselves Griffins. other types of things.” Professor Profile: Julie Kamenetzky Julie Kamenetzky is fostering a culture of scientific curiosity B Y C H A R TAY I A C R E A R “We are all star stuff,” said Julia Kamenetzky, an associate STEM often find themselves navigating. professor of physics. Kamenetzky quoted the former Cosmos Teaching the Honors class offered a way for her to expand host, Carl Sagan, as she explained her doctoral work on upon this practice of understanding her experiences. molecular gas in star-forming galaxies in terms of Kamenetzky advocates for the field of science the everyday non-physicist. to embrace a culture of “curiosity” instead of “You have to go through this process of galaxy “competition.” She challenges the stoic stereotype evolution, star formation, death, and birth to of the hard sciences as distant from social even create the elements that we rely on to live,” issues, and encourages “any student [to] try to Kamenetzky said. “It’s always just mind-boggling understand what happen[s] in science [and] how to think about. The iron in our blood came from it get[s] used in society, because even if you aren’t an exploding star billions of years ago. It really majoring in science you are impacted by it, you puts you in relationship to the cosmos.” are a consumer of scientific information.” In the spring, Kamenetzky co-teaches the Julie Kamenetzky (She/Her), With the “freedom” of teaching at a small Honors college course Science, Power, and associate professor of physics, sits liberal arts college like her alma mater, Cornell a classroom in the Meldrum Diversity. In true interdisciplinary fashion, in College, Kamenetzky is proud of her ability to Science Center. Kamenetzky highlights the benefit of using Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter “be flexible,” “learn new things,” and “succeed” in “social science perspectives to understand how to the “research projects [she’s done with] students navigate [hard] science[s].” in completely new fields.” “As a woman physicist, I’ve had a lot of experiences with how Westminster students see her dedication and it inspires diversity and power interact within the scientific enterprise,” them—especially those who face challenges—to continue to Kamenetzky said, attesting to the adverse situations women in strive for their goals. 8 Let’s Get Your Perspective What does Westminster College’s vaccine requirement suggest about the college’s responsibility to our community and individual rights? Han Kim Olivia Gregg Student perspective As a public health major, to me, community always comes first. The three principles of public health are protection, prevention, and the promotion of health. None of these can occur without the cooperation of an entire community. I believe it is vital that Olivia Gregg (She/Her), a public Westminster College requires the vaccine because it not only helps health major and gender studies minor, stands on campus. stop the spread of new variants of Photo courtesy Abigale Winter COVID-19, but also builds a sense of community. Students working together to protect one another, especially those immunocompromised, will bring our community closer. Although a vaccine mandate may appear to hinder or suppress individual rights, this is simply not the case. If one does not want to adhere to the guidelines set forth to protect our community, they have the right to not participate at all in that community. While somewhat harsh, this is the reality we live in. Colleges, establishments, and events are going to start requiring vaccines: if one chooses not to get vaccinated, then they do not have the privilege of participating—ultimately, that is the individual’s choice. I would also acknowledge that a vaccine requirement is not a new concept. In many states, vaccination records are required in preschool and elementary school. Exemption paperwork is required the same way it would be for the COVID-19 vaccine. To further reassure hesitant folks, the vaccine is now FDAapproved, which supports the safety and efficacy we were already seeing in the data. It is hard to see people become so divided over something that should bring people together. As we have all come to realize, a pandemic really puts into perspective what is truly important to us. I think at the core of that is the people we love. I want to protect them, and that is why I got vaccinated. I am glad the Westminster community is also taking the necessary step to protect the community that contains so much love. Professor perspective The way we talk about vaccination is limited. Many voices frame vaccination as a purely personal decision, one that only affects an individual’s risk of contracting and dying from an infectious illness. While there are personal benefits (and minimal risks) to vaccination, the larger benefits are to the community. Han Kim (He/Him), professor of public health, stands on campus. Vaccinations aim to protect a Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter community as a whole. They limit the spread of diseases and in doing so protect those amongst us who, because of medical reasons, cannot choose to be vaccinated while also protecting everyone from the risk of breakthrough infection. The consequences of a person’s decision to not get vaccinated are not limited to the individual alone. The decision has significant consequences for the wider community. Thus, the decision to NOT vaccinate infringes on other community members’ right to be protected from infection. Therefore, a decision to vaccinate is not an issue of personal freedom, but a social responsibility in exchange for living within a community. It is impossible to think of personal freedoms divorced from social responsibility. This argument is neither unprecedented nor new. Limits to personal liberties to protect the wider community, in the form of social norms or legal restrictions, are accepted in exchange for the benefits of living in a community. Drunk driving laws, noise ordinances, and literally hundreds of other laws and social norms have been widely adopted and accepted to protect the health and welfare of the community. And if social norms are widely violated and become a danger to the rights of other individuals in the community, even the most ardent libertarian would accept the passage of laws and mandates to assure that the norms are followed. Given the misinformation surrounding vaccination and the hundreds of thousands of deaths directly caused by this misinformation, vaccine mandates have become necessary to assure the safety of everyone in the community. Therefore, it is incorrect to frame this argument around notions of individual liberties without considering social responsibility. Westminster College’s decision to impose a mask and vaccine mandate is NOT an attack on individual choice; it is a responsible decision to protect individuals by protecting the community. “ I b e lieve it i s v i t a l t h at We s t m i n s te r Co l l ege “The co nsequences of a per so n’s decision to not req u ire s th e vacc i n e b e c a u s e i t n ot on l y h el ps sto p get vacinated are not l im ited to the individual th e s p re ad of n ew va r i a nt s of COV I D -1 9 but al so al o ne. The decisio n has signif icant co nsequences b u ild s a s e n s e of com m u n i t y.” fo r the wider co m m unity.” 9 NEWS & NOTES Bill Kilpack (’93) received a Firebird Book Award for his latest fantasy novel, Crown Prince: Book One of New Blood. December issue of Poetry magazine, the oldest monthly devoted to verse in the English-speaking world. Yongtai “Terry” Li (’21) started the PhD program in physics at Lehigh University. Ashley Pedersen (’09) started the graduate program in Landscape Architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design this fall. Sally Miller (’19) was selected as a Fulbright Fellowship recipient and is serving as an ETA (English Teaching Assistant) in Spain for 2021–22. Charlotte Mulliniks (’21) has started the PhD program in biology (with a neuroscience emphasis) at Lehigh University. David Mursener-Gonzales (’11) is now working as a product manager for Apple. Hannah Peacock (’19) is entering her third year of graduate studies in the Ph.D. program in organic chemistry at the University of California, Irvine. Sanskriti Timseena (’21) now works as a software engineer for Neutron Interactive, an online marketing firm. Danny Barber (’12) started a new position as an attorney with Blackrock Neurotech focused on intellectual property. Mai Ho (’12) was named to Forbes’s “30 Under Asia 2021” list for finance & venture capital. Lauren Johnson (’13) graduated last spring from Carleton University with a Master of Arts in Sustainable Energy and has started a job as a policy analysis at Environment and Climate Change Canada in their Cross-Sectoral Energy Division. Lauren has recent papers published in Princeton University’s Journal of Public and International Affairs entitled “Stealing the Genie from the Lamp: The Politics of Energy and Justice in Canada” and in Carleton Perspectives on Public Policy entitled “Of Kale and Caribou: Towards a Coherent Food Security Policy Mix for Nunavut.” Amanda Howa (’16) is now in Vanderbilt University’s PhD program in epidemiology. Jeremy Dormitzer (’17) moved to a new position as senior software engineer at Capital One. Charlie Saad (’18) started a position as management and program analyst at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Taylor Stevens (’18) just started graduate studies at Arizona State University in the Masters of Investigative Journalism program. Stephanie Held (’19) was promoted to the full-time communications specialist for New Moms, a nonprofit serving young moms on Chicago’s West Side. Carolyn Janecek (’19) has a poem titled “The People Leporidae” appearing in the Kenzie Campbell (’20) started the Master of Public Health program at Boise State University this fall focusing on prevention and intervention programming. Emily LaBlond (’20) started a position as data analyst at Early Warning. Katie Saad (’20) was promoted to Children’s Case Manager at House of Hope. Max White (’20) started law school this fall at the University of Iowa. Maggie Regier (’20) started the MACL program at Westminster College. Lia Baez (’21) started a new position as intern program manager with Salt Lake County. Kate Blair (’21) started the MAT program at Westminster College. Rebecca Blanton (’21) started a new position as social media specialist with the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. Hailey Brookins (’21) was one of two students recognized at Westminster’s 2021 Undergraduate Conference by QUARC (the Quantitative Analysis and Research Cooperative) for the best use of statistics in her presentation entitled “Predicting Droughts Across the United States with Meteorological Data.” Asma Dahir (’21) was named a National Health Service Corps Scholar, a designation that means all of her PA program costs at Stanford University will be covered. Calvin Golas (’21) started a new position as software development engineer at Amazon. 10 Abbie Hagen (’22) was the stage manager for Westminster Theatre’s production of The Birthday Party, by Harold Pinter. This was her first time serving as a stage manager and she plans on working on other productions in the future. Samantha Paredes (’22) played Florika in The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Hopebox Theatre in Kaysville, Utah. She was part of the Teal cast and the show ran from October 1 to October 23. Brendan Sudberry (’22) was elected ASW president for 2021–22. This is the fifth time in the past six years that an Honors college student has been elected as student body president. Reese Gorey (’23) is a pre-med neuroscience student and works as a research assistant at the University of Utah School of Medicine in the Populations Health Science | Health Systems Innovations and Research. He was recently promoted to the “Study Lead” for a research study called PREVENTABLE—the largest study in the nation for older adults (75+). Nicole Klonizos (’23) recently accepted one of the orientation program assistant positions at Westminster College. Salome Aydlett’s (‘24) short story “How to Ethically Steal a Pig” appears in the 2021 issue of Scribendi, published by the University of New Mexico’s Honors college. Did you do something notable? We want to know! Email your news and notes to Richard Badenhausen at [e-mail]. Meet this year’s Student Honors Council BY YOV I E SA I Z After over a year of no in-person interaction, this year’s Student Honors Council (SHC) is determined to make connections college-wide and continue to grow our Honors community. As SHC vice-president for this year, I have the honor to work next to some of the most inclusive, hard-working individuals in the Honors college. Here are some fun facts about us: Chelsea Anowi (’21), our president, is a psychology major with an emphasis in the cognitive sciences and she also plays the violin. This is Anowi’s final semester! Nina Asef (’23), our treasurer, is a sociology major and she is a wonderful painter. Ashton Marcoux (’22), our secretary, is a senior double majoring in management and marketing and she loves astrology. Emily Hill (’24), our historian, is majoring in political science with justice studies minor and she is an identical twin. Lastly, my name is Yovie Saiz (’23) and I’m a psychology major, justice studies minor, and I make the best milkshakes. As an SHC team, we have been able to make goals for this year that focus on our students having fun at in-person events, while keeping consciousness on protecting ourselves. “Whether that involves food, meeting professors, and playing games… all I really want to do is make someone else smile,” Anowi said. We have seen that inclusive events, like our recent BBQ Party, make it so our community can “regain that social aspect we missed out on,” especially for those students who came into the college experience for the first time in the middle of the pandemic, like Hill. Beyond in-person community building, we also look forward to creating intersectionalidentity safe spaces where we can continue to acknowledge that “people are ever-changing in society and we are not alone in our experiences,” Marcoux said. Asef added that “no matter where we come The Student Honors Council from, who we are, what poses on one of the red benches by beliefs we have – at the Giovale Library. Left to Right: end of the day we are all Emily Hill (She/Her), Yovie Saiz people.” (She/Her), Ashton Marcoux (She/ We need to be there Her), Nina Asef (She/Her), Chelsea for each other to navigate Anowi (She/Her). the world, and if we can Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter do that by taking action and truly creating spaces for everyone in our community, our goals are fulfilled. The Student Honors Council stands in front of Nunemaker, home of the Honors college. Left to Right: Nina Asef (She/ Her), Yovie Saiz (She/Her), Chelsea Anowi (She/Her), Emily Hill (She/Her), Ashton Marcoux (She/Her). Photo courtesy of Abigale Winter 11 H O N O RAB LE MENTION E DIT O R S 2021-2022 Vanessa Eveleth (she/her) (‘23), Managing Editor, is a communication major with a love for writing. She has a deep appreciation for the power of words. Writing has been part of her life since she was seven years old, and she intends to continue writing in various ways across Westminster’s campus. If not writing, Vanessa is likely to be tucked away in a cozy corner on-campus with a book in one hand and a hot drink in the other. Zidia Gibson (she/her) (’24), Layout Editor, is a communication major and film studies minor with a love for telling stories. On campus, she works as a social media coordinator for Westminster and is the Managing Editor of The Forum. Zidia loves playing video games, hiking the valley, and rock climbing with friends. She also has a special knack for seeking out the cats on Westminster Ave. and petting them profusely (much to both parties’ delight). Sophie Caligiuri (she/they) (’22), Copy Editor, is pursuing an Honors degree, majoring in philosophy, and minoring in English. Sophie is part of Legacy Scholars, works at the Writing Center, and serves as an Honors peer mentor. She also dedicates time to the Dumke Center for Civic Engagement and Student Honors Council. Sophie likes spontaneous dance parties with friends and family, reading anything and everything, watching really good and really bad movies, being the godmother to Ceci’s lizard, and making extensive Spotify playlists. Ceci Rigby (she/they) (’22), Photo Editor, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in environmental studies. Ceci co-coordinates the Environmental Justice team, works as a research assistant for the Great Salt Lake Institute, and serves as an Honors peer mentor. Several of Ceci’s greatest accomplishments include collecting embarrassing amounts of physical media, being the sole guardian of her pet lizard, Jeff, (Sophie, pictured left, is the godmother), and getting into Mitski’s top 0.05% listeners on Spotify. Letter from the Editors People: The Westminster Honors College People The Honors college is a place of strength and support for everyone in the community for years, especially during COVID-19 pandemic. This is why we choose to intentionally focus on the incredible people who make up the Honors community. Our community is powerful because of the unique and inspiring individuals who participate in the Honors college. By telling the stories of individuals, we all learn. As such, we hope you have discovered new ideas and perspectives through the lived experiences and stories in this Honorable Mention issue. What stories does your community have to share? What can we all learn from one another? We are students. We are faculty and staff. And we are alumni. We all bring something new and insightful to our community. Let’s remember that moving forward! Honors College Westminster College 1840 South 1300 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84105 westminstercollege.edu/honors · · Fall 2021 Volume 20 Issue 1