Feature of the Month

Meet the leaders of Alpha Sigma Nu's Chapters, who will be representing their schools at the 2009 Triennial Conference, October 8-11, at Saint Louis University

 

Laura Mercurio:  I grew up in South Salem, NY and attended high school at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT. I currently attend Georgetown University, where I am pursuing a major in The Biology of Global Health from the college, and a minor in African Studies from the School of Foreign Service. I have also completed the "pre-medical" track, and I am currently applying to medical school. My extracurricular interests center around service work - coordinating the Malaria Awareness Project and hospital volunteering, but my passions also include running, swimming, and enjoying the outdoors. I was inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu in February of last year, and am excited to engage my responsibilities as Georgetown Chapter presiden

t.

 

  

                                                                                                                                                                                 

                                  

From the resume of John Wenstrand:

Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA

Tennis coach, Ladera Tennis Camp, Ladera, CA

Violin Teacher, Home, Menlo Park, CA

Stockroom, Coach, Stanford, CA

• Counselor, Camp Costanoan, Santa Clara, CA
• Chosen “best counselor” of 50 staff members

Construction, Habitat for Humanity, Anchorage, AK / Daily City, CA / Spokane, WA.  Learned the basics of building houses, including framing, foundations, window installation, painting, and many other tasks.

               

 

 Emily Fogg, originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a senior Communication major at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. In addition to working with Alpha Sigma Nu, Emily works with Residence Life as an Assistant Residence Life Coordinator (ARLC). Emily is also a Spanish minor and studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain during the Fall 2009 semester. In her free time, Emily enjoys skiing, playing volleyball, and watching football. Emily is looking to attend graduate school to further her education in Student Affairs.

 

Kelsey Palmer is a senior at Marquette University studying accounting, finance and Spanish. She hopes to earn her PhD and teach accounting as a university professor. She loves public speaking and coaches a high school forensics (speech) team. In addition, she serves as board treasurer for the state’s forensic coaching organization. She also works closely with the Girl Scouts, including advising teen gold award recipients and organizing an alumni volunteer group. Four hours a week, she takes a break from her busy schedule to sing with the university choir, which provides wonderful relief from the rigors of studying! She loves being a part of Alpha Sigma Nu and is so excited for the great things the upcoming year will bring.

 

 

Daniel Anderson

I am the treasurer for Alpha Sigma Nu, Seattle University Chapter. I am majoring in accounting and am currently trying to bring my knowledge of accounting in handling the club’s finances. I am graduating from Seattle University this June. I have lived in Seattle all my life. For fun I enjoy cooking, playing piano, and kayaking.

 

 

Christopher Staysniak

 

Born and raised in Ridgefield, CT, Chris attends Fairfield University along with his twin brother, Geoff, also a member of Alpha Sigma Nu. Chris is a History Major with a concentration in American Social Movements and Black History, a Politics and Math double minor, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and currently TA-ing a Constitutional History class and working with the American Institute for History Education.
  Outside of the classroom, Chris is involved in a plethora of activities witin the Fairfield U community. He is the senior RA for Jogues Hall, overseeing a staff of seven sophomores, juniors and seniors and an overall community of 300+ sophomores, including an intentional social justice living and learning community. He is also a leader of the on campus organization Students for Social Justice, leading a domestic service trip to New Orleans this January break with the Green Campus Initiative, and coordinating the Postgrad Service Fair, among other activities. To keep himself sane, he is also currently partaking in the Spiritual Exercises, and one of the leaders of the school's brand new ultimate frisbee club and team. His plans for after graduation are currently up in the air as he is deciding whether he wants to head directly into graduate school or take time off first to work or do 1-2 years of service.

 

Amy Lam

Hi, my name is Amy Lam. I am currently a Senior at the University of San Francisco with a major in Nursing, and minors in Child and Youth Studies and Music. My goals include working as a critical care nurse in the neonatal ICU and to one day become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. My hobbies include playing the flute in the orchestra and at St. Ignatius Church's choir, singing, running, traveling, shopping, reading, watching movies, cooking, and volunteering in the community.

 

 

Megan Brenner is the Alpha Sigma Nu President at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.  Megan will graduate from Canisius in May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and minors in World Religion, Music, and Childhood Clinical/Counseling.  She is also a member of DiGamma, the National Service Honor Society at Canisius, and Psi Chi, the National Psychology Honor Society.  She is also an active member in the arts at Canisius, participating in the Canisius Chorale (Vocal Scholarship Recipient), Little Theatre Club, Arts Promotion Club, and most recently, the Canisius College Select Choir (Co-Founder and Vice President). 

Megan also works actively toward social justice with the Office of Campus Ministry at Canisius.  For the past three years she has been the Social Justice Intern.  In that position, Megan has led trips to the Ignatian Family Teach-Ins in both Georgia and Los Angeles, and will lead a group of students on a service trip to West Virginia in the spring.  Last year she participated in the Canisius College International Service-Immersion Trip to Chennai, India and will return to India again this year as the trip leader.  Megan’s post-graduation plans involve a year of domestic service, preferably through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps before pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

 

Jacob Hayden

I am a senior at Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, NJ. I was born and raised in Puyallup, WA. I attended Bellarmine Preparatory in Tacoma, WA. I came to Saint Peter’s because I wanted to study on the east coast and continue my Jesuit education. I am majoring in Criminal Justice and Philosophy. In addition to my membership in the Jesuit honor society, I am also a member in both the philosophy honor society and criminal justice honor society. I am a member of the honors program at Saint Peter’s. I also actively participate in retreat and liturgical ministry on campus. After college I hope to do a year of JVC northwest and then return home and pursue a career as a law enforcement officer in Pierce or King County.

 

 

Yvonne King

Yvonne earned a Bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology and English from the University of Detroit Mercy. She is currently completing a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling and is employed as the Administrative Assistant to the Dean in the College of Health Professions at UDM. Yvonne Volunteers occasionally at McAuley Center in Farmington, Michigan and serves on the following UDM committees: Staff and Administrator Development Team, Emergency Response Planning Committee, and UDM Strategic Planning Task Force.  She is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, Psi Chi, and Delta Epsilon Iota.

 

 

 

Sr. Maureen Baldwin, CND, BA. BEd.,MEd. 

Maureen is the current president of the Alpha Sigma Nu Chapter from Regis College in Toronto, Canada.  She has recently completed her MAMS and DSD at Regis College and is continuing on for further studies.

 

 

 

 Dan Shaver is a senior at Rockhurst University from Saint Louis. He is pursuing a degree in mathematics and secondary education as well as a separate degree in philosophy and hopes to graduate in Spring,  2010. He is looking forward to his student teaching semester in his final semester with excitement.

Dan is very active in the Rockhurst community. Aside from serving as the President of the Alpha Sigma Nu chapter, he also sits as a student member on the university's Mission & Ministry Committee and serves his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, as executive board member. He also serves as the president of the Running Club and is currently training for his fourth half marathon this fall. He enjoys running and playing all sports, most especially soccer. Last Spring, Dan was the recipient of the third annual Hawk of the Year award for his spirit and service to the school. Given everything he does, it is obvious that his most valued time is that which he spends relaxing. 

 

 

Anne Mohan

 Born in Kiel, Germany

 Attended the international accredited private Trade school for Occupational Therapy, Luebeck, Germany, and is licensed as a registered Occupational Therapist,

 Actress with the European tour of the musical “Grease”, performed in Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

 Full time student at Loyola University (Major: Biochemistry, Minor: Neuroscience)

 Future plans:  Fall 2011 Medical School

 

 

 

Laura Kraus

Hi!  I'm the Saint Louis University Chapter President of ASN.  I'm currently a senior majoring in Economics and minoring in Studio Art.  I grew up just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana and still miss the warm weather and great cooking down there.  However, Saint Louis has been my home for four years now, and I have come to appreciate its many virtues.  I'm excited for all of you to come see a little bit of SLU and Saint Louis.

   Brenton Andreasik is president of the Loyola College in Maryland chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu.  He has entirely too much to do and is probably extremely busy right now, as you are reading this sentence.  This is because he is also president of the Loyola College Pre-Health Society, and student coordinator for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT).  The rest of his scattered time is split between the Loyola College Honor Council, Tri-Beta (Biological sciences honor society), and mentoring for the Honors Program.  During the summer he enjoys volunteering in hospitals and working in research facilities, including Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense.  By this time next year, he hopes to be in his first year of medical school, whereupon he will be so much busier that he will look back on the halcyon days of his senior year as the most leisurely time of his life.  During his spare time, he enjoys watching movies, listening to music and playing basketball – but don’t ever tell him that he’s too short to play basketball.  He prefers the term “vertically challenged.”

Brenton Andreasik

 

                Nicholas Courtney is a senior Philosophy and Medieval Studies major at Loyola University New Orleans.  Originally a New Orleans native, Nicholas has lived in a rural town north of New Orleans for much of his life.  Though his mother was a youth minister and religious educator, Nicholas had no experiences with Jesuits or the Jesuit order before he got to Loyola.

                Since starting at Loyola, Nicholas has become involved in numerous University Ministry programs, including Christian Life Communities and retreat planning.  He has also been active in the University Honors Program and several other Honors Societies before joining Alpha Sigma Nu.  He is currently planning to enter the Jesuit Volunteer Corps before going on to graduate school to pursue a PhD in Philosophy.

Emily Ruskamp

Originally from a farm near Dodge, Neb., Emily Ruskamp is a senior at Creighton University in Omaha. She is an Honors student double majoring in economics and journalism with a strong interest in international development. Throughout her time at Creighton, Emily has devoted most of her free time to various volunteer activities. This year she is a member of the organizing team for the Spring Break Service Trip program through the Creighton Center for Service and Justice. She also serves on the CCSJ’s Advocacy Team, teaches in a weekly after-school youth program for Latino youth and is active in Legado de Compasión, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for social causes in Latin America. Emily spent a semester in the Dominican Republic through an academic, service-learning program and a summer in Washington, D.C., doing advocacy work. She has also worked for various non-profit organizations in Omaha. After graduation, Emily plans to spend 2-3 years volunteering internationally before possibly attending graduate school.

 

Valerie Wynne is a left-handed English major and Psychology minor at Fordham University. She is also in pursuit of her Masters of Adolescent Education at Fordham Graduate School of Education, and hopes to become the best high school English teacher the New York Public Schools have ever seen. In addition, Valerie enjoys dabbling in photography, reading in Central Park, and volunteering at M.S. 254. She loves to travel and is very excited to be visiting St. Louis for the first time

 

Theresa Haantz

  Theresa is currently a senior at the University of Scranton in Scranton, PA majoring in Marketing and Philosophy.  She is involved in many clubs and activities on campus, including music ministry, peer education, and the World Youth Alliance.  Theresa actively volunteers in the community as an HIV educator for the Red Cross and as a mental health assistant in a local HIV clinic.  She is originally from Middlesex, NJ where she lives with her parents and her sister.

  

Kathleen is a senior biology major at Xavier University.  Her goal is to attend medical school  as well as to earn a masters in public health.  Kathleen is very involved at the XU Women's Center on campus where she has pursued her interest in gender issues through a research endeavor about rates of vicarious trauma in sexual assault nurse examiners.

Kathleen's long term goals are to be a primary care physician while using her MPH to pursue her research interests further. 

Kathleen Coy

 

Laura is an economics-accounting major with an Asian Studies Concentration at College of the Holy Cross. She spent her junior year abroad studying politics and economics at Mansfield College at the University of Oxford where she joined the college’s rowing team. At Holy Cross Laura is involved in campus ministry, Magis, Student Programs for Urban Development, as well as the Community Alliance team that is working to improve the relationship between the college and the nearby residents. Laura grew up in East Longmeadow, MA with her parents and her two older brothers, Jeffrey and Kevin. Her interests include tennis, the beach, skiing, and running.

Laura Beglane

 

 

 Pat Neff

I am a senior at John Carroll University majoring in classics, with minors in philosophy and Catholic studies. I am originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was attracted to John Carroll because of its Jesuit Catholic tradition, not to mention its sizeable scholarship for classics majors. Over the course of my collegiate education I've changed career goals quite a few times, desiring to go into such careers as academics, law, and the priesthood. My hobbies include playing bagpipes and tending to my plants.

 

 

 

 

                                               

Christina Gasparini                                              

I am the third oldest of six children and have lived in Syracuse, NY all my life.  A mathematics major with a minor in education,  I hope to someday teach at the middle or high school level.  In addition to being President of the Le Moyne College Chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, I am currently Vice-President of the Le Moyne Chapter of the International Education Honor Society (Kappa Delta Pi).  For the past 6 years, I have worked in a daycare center, as well as providing care for children with disabilities.  During the past 4 years I have traveled to several states to help put together retreats for Hard As Nails and Mega Youth Ministries. 

 

Tyler Galbraith

 

I’m an Accounting and Business Law double major from Pleasanton, CA. I love LMU not only because of how beautiful it is, but also because of the size of the campus. I’m actively involved with the University Honors Program and am a campus tour guide. My most fulfilling experience at LMU has been joining Crimson Circle. Crimson Circle is an all-male service organization made up of 35 men from the sophomore, junior, and senior classes. Because of the organization I have been able to actively participate in the LMU community and meet some of my best friends at school.

In my time outside of class I love watching sports and participate in every intramural sport I can. During high school I lettered in both basketball and golf and continue to play both today along with others. This summer I interned for Ernst & Young in San Francisco and have accepted a full time position there for next fall. I am extremely excited about having a job lined up because I will not have to stress as much senior year about what I will be doing upon graduation.