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he sat on the sidewalk in front of a movie theater in Fort Hood, Texas, after learning that an improvised explosive device had taken the life of one of his dearest friends. “The next thought I had was, ‘what can I do?’” Calata decided to make his way through his contact list, calling the people whose lives were touched by his selfless friend. “That was when everyone started tiptoeing into other parts of Brian’s life.” Mary Bradshaw is still tiptoeing seven years after her son’s death. “He had a

teachers, her parents had perfected an environment that nurtured learning. Never lecturing, showing off their own knowledge, or being judgmental, they nevertheless continually questioned, then exemplified and shared, the excitement of discovering an answer. In this sense, they accomplished the most that any liberal arts professor can and should do, particularly in our Internet age when the sheer volume of factual information can seem to threaten human creativity and meaning. Interestingly, they both

with family and academic advisors before deciding to pursue a biology major that would lead her to becoming a doctor. For Ash, this felt like the right fit. “I’ve always been attracted to the sciences – especially those that have to do with the human body,” she says. Because Pacific Lutheran University expands learning beyond concentrations, Ash enrolled in biology classes she normally wouldn’t take. She enrolled in Land Management and Conservation Biology, which she says broadened her view. “It

life.” For Bryson Baligad ‘18, who received a degree in physics during his three years at PLU and is now studying mechanical engineering at Columbia for his last two, the 3-2 program was a chance to get ahead of his peers. “I can definitely see that I’m more prepared than a lot of other students at Columbia because I have this strong foundation (in math and physics),” he said. “So a lot of the concepts that we’re learning right now actually don’t seem that unfamiliar.” Bryson Baligad ‘18 received a

normally be around. I have enjoyed getting to go and discover new things at Manchester State Park in the fresh air, out of the classroom and doing some fieldwork. What makes PLU impactful to you? The small class sizes and learning aspect is really unique to PLU. If you miss a day of class, I feel like professors are in tune with knowing that and seeing how to help and support their students — that is something definitely unique to PLU. Where do you plan to teach after graduation from the MAE program? I

courses in ecology and evolution, cell structure and function, and physiology have given me a broad foundation of understanding that I can carry forward with me into my future work.” – Daniel What skills are you learning? “There are tons of skills that I have been able to gain during my time at PLU, and there are so many opportunities to learn new ones too! Some very important skills I have gained are teamwork and leadership. Through my job working for the biology department, and other clubs and

alumni from PLU are willing to help them achieve their goals.” Whalen and her fellow Lutes spent the day learning from Sorensen and his guest speakers. She says she is grateful for the opportunity. “It was super helpful getting to talk to so many different people,” Whalen said. “We got to hear what they liked about the job and what they didn’t –it was a really helpful and a neat opportunity.” Read Previous Major Minute(ish): Environmental Studies Read Next Sarah Saavedra ’22 shares her experience as

with a few friends for LASR called “Gaydio.” It has been a very fun experience though very outside of my comfort zone. On the show, we have had a lot of fun sharing stories with one another and learning new things. I appreciate PLU for allowing me to have a unique experience like this. ​​What feeling do you have around growing up in this community and now graduating from its local university? During my senior year, I’ve been thinking about it a lot more and, seeing as my being a teacher is becoming

, Gavidia’s career took another significant step forward when he joined Cannon as a full-stack software engineer, working on an open-source tool for managing smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. Gavidia’s internships allowed him to establish mentors, which was vital to his learning and something he recommends to other students. At PLU, his mentors were Professor Jeff Caley, an assistant professor of computer science, and Professor Justin Lytle, a professor of chemistry.Why Study Computer Science at

together to explore the theme of Re-forming, as we celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation and honor the core tenets of Lutheran higher education – critical questioning, freedom for expression, foundation in the liberal arts, learning and research within community, intrinsic value of educating the whole person, discerning one’s vocation in the world, and service to the advancement of life, health, and wholeness. Read Previous PLU places in English and Spanish Worlds at Mark O. Hatfield