The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics held its year-end dinner on April 24 to honor the 11 affiliated students who earned their degrees from Iowa State University.
Students in attendance included Legacy of Heroines scholars, student interns, Campus Election Engagement Project fellows, and Andrew Goodman Foundation ambassadors.
Director of the Catt Center, Karen Kedrowski, was the keynote speaker for the evening and presented, “I Didn’t Know Where I Was Going Yet I Ended Up Here: Lessons Learned on My Leadership Journey.”
To conclude the evening, the graduating seniors were called to the front of the room to receive a gift from Catt Center staff while their future plans were shared with dinner guests.
Students sharing their future plans include:
Ihssan Ait Boucherbil will graduate in August with a degree in chemistry and a minor in political science. Originally from Plainfield, Illinois, she was the recipient of a Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines Scholarship for Women in Science, supported by Helen Jensen Howe of Muscatine, Iowa, since August 2017. She will be volunteering with AmeriCorps in Sacramento, California.
Mary Anton of Cedar Falls, Iowa, will graduate in December 2019 with a degree in mathematics and a minor in learning technologies. Anton has received the Beth Bierbaum Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Beth Bierbaum of Wellesley, Massachusetts, since August 2017. She is planning to teach for eight weeks in Des Moines, Iowa, and then she will teach in Taiwan for eight weeks.
Madison Durflinger, originally from Eldon, Iowa, received a Claire B. Andreasen Legacy of Heroines scholarship for the 2018-19 academic year, which is supported by Dr. Claire Andreasen of Ames, Iowa. Durflinger graduated with a degree in biology and animal science in May. She plans to attend Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in the fall.
Katie Fleming, a native of Dubuque, Iowa, received a Claire B. Andreasen Legacy of Heroines scholarship for the 2018-19 academic year, which is supported by Dr. Claire Andreasen of Ames, Iowa. Fleming graduated in May with a degree in biology and a minor in animal science. Fleming will attend Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, to pursue a dual degree in veterinary medicine and a master’s in public health.
Jessica Holtkamp, from Mount Pleasant, Iowa, graduated with a degree in political science in May. She was the 2018-19 recipient of the Haselhoff Family Legacy of Heroines scholarship, supported by Sharon Haselhoff of Larchwood, Iowa. Holtkamp worked as the Archives of Women’s Political Communication intern at the Catt Center for the past two years and as a Campus Election Engagement Project fellow. She will be continuing her work in voter engagement and advocacy in Minneapolis.
Nayely Hurtado will graduate in August with degrees in political science and Spanish. She was a 2018-19 Rice-Neville Legacy of Heroines scholarship recipient, which is supported by Dianne and Keith Bystrom of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Hurtado is from Osceola, Iowa, and plans on pursuing a master’s in public policy at Northeastern University in Boston.
Amber Klein graduated in May with a degree in communication studies, a minor in general business and a certificate in leadership studies. She was the recipient of the Katherine Bruntlett Annin Legacy of Heroines scholarship from 2017-19, which was endowed by Annin’s estate. Klein plans on serving as a FOCUS missionary after graduation. Klein is from Wells, Minnesota.
Mica Magtoto, from Ames, Iowa, will graduate in August with degrees in nutritional science and international agriculture and a minor in Spanish. She was a Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines scholar from 2015-17 and a Phyllis Davis Legacy of Heroines scholar from 2017-19. Magtoto is currently interviewing for different positions.
Alexander Sandeen graduated with a degree in political science with a minor in history in May. Sandeen was one of three Campus Engagement Election Project fellows for the 2018-19 academic year. He will be attending Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa, in August and will be studying general practice. Sandeen is from Swedesburg, Iowa.
Kathryn Walker received a Carrie Chapman Catt Legacy of Heroines scholarship for the 2018-19 academic year, which is supported by various donors to the Catt Center’s general scholarship fund. Originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Walker will graduate with a degree in political science in December. She plans to attend graduate school at Iowa State for public policy and then hopes to volunteer with the Peace Corps in Eastern Europe.
Alli Weaver will be graduating in August with degrees in political science and journalism and mass communication. She was the recipient of the Maxine M. Burch Legacy of Heroines scholarship, which is endowed by the estate of the late Maxine Burch. Originally from Hudson, Iowa, Weaver plans to pursue a career journalism or public relations.