Catt Center 2020 graduates share future plans

CATEGORIES: May 2020, Voices

First and foremost, we want to say “congratulations” to our wonderful 2020 graduates! Second, we want to acknowledge that this isn’t the end of the year we expected, but we will still try to honor your achievement as best we can!

Without further ado, our seniors:

Crystal Brandenburgh, from Council Bluffs, Iowa, graduated with a degree in history and a minor in political science. After graduation, she will attend Carnegie Mellon as a graduate student. Along with being an intern at the Catt Center, she was also the recipient of an Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian R. Binger Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian Binger of Ames, Iowa.

Martha Broadnax plans to use her political science degree in law school after graduation. She is originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota, and received a Political Science Alumni Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which is supported by Bill and Nancy Haigh of Fairmont, Minnesota; Dwight Ink and Dona Wolf of Leesburg, Virginia; Maureen Roach Tobin and Terrence Tobin of Clive, Iowa; and Sharon Haselhoff of Larchwood, Iowa.

Lucy Dougherty graduate with a degree in economics and political science. She is from Winterset, Iowa, and plans to work for the Iowa State Lectures Program before taking on law school. She received the Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian R. Binger Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which is supported by Elizabeth Hoffman and Brian Binger of Ames, Iowa.

Sarah Gardner majored in hospitality management, and will take her expertise to Honey & Joy Events after graduation. Originally from Bakersfield, California, she received the Maxine M. Burch Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, endowed by the estate of Maxine Burch.

Daniela Gatica is a recipient of the Claire B. Andreasen Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which is supported by Claire Andreasen of Ames, Iowa. She is originally from Onalaska, Wisconsin, and plans to use her degree in animal science with her minor in environmental studies at the Madison Veterinary School of Medicine.

Abigail Mankins of Des Moines, Iowa, majored in political science and environmental studies, and minored in women’s & gender studies and statistics. She is planning on pursuing her M.Ed. in higher education and student affairs at ISU. She is a former Catt Center intern and a recipient of a Helen Jensen Howe Legacy of Heroines Scholarship for Women in Science, supported by Helen Jensen Howe of Muscatine, Iowa.

Sarah Meisch majored in political science and international studies. She is from Kansas City, Missouri, and will begin working at PURE Insurance as a member advocate after graduation. She was the recipient of the Jane Greimann Legacy of Heroines scholarship, which was endowed by Greimann’s late husband, Lowell Greimann, and various donors.

Mckenzie Meradith of Omaha, Nebraska, majored in political science. After graduation, she plans to attend law school at Creighton University. She was the recipient of the Meylor Family Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Sharon Haselhoff of Larchwood, Iowa.

Sarah Moody from Collins, Iowa, graduated with a degree in political science and international studies. She plans to take a gap year before she attends law school. Moody was awarded a Jane Greimann Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which was endowed by the late Lowell Greimann of Ames, Iowa.

Montserrat Ponce Parra of Mexico City, Mexico, was the recipient of the Katherine Bruntlett Annin Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which was endowed by Annin’s estate. She graduated with a degree in mathematics and economics with minors in statistics and religious studies. After graduation, she will get her Ph.D. in economics.

Izzy Rojas from Saint Paul, Minnesota, was one of the lovely interns at the Catt Center this year. She graduated with a degree in political science and a minor in history, and plans to move to Portland, Oregon.

Kaitlyn Sanchez from Belleville, Illinois, graduated with a degree in graphic design and a minor in leadership studies. She was the recipient of the Joanne and Charles Kuster Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Joanne and Charles Kuster of Johnston, Iowa. After graduation she plans to work in Iowa for a year and then serve as a communications specialist at a language learning center in Costa Rica.

Smruthi Sandhanam graduated with a major in computer engineering and a minor in cyber security. Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she plans to work for Northrop Grumman. Sandhanam was the recipient of the Haselhoff Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Sharon Haselhoff of Larchwood, Iowa.

Olivia Skwerski from Arlington Heights, Illinois, graduated with a degree in civil engineering. Skwerski received the James R. and Lauri K. Young Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Lauri and James Young of Cedar Falls, Iowa. After graduation she will go to graduate school for environmental engineering.

Sierra Stalians from Apple Valley, California, graduated with a degree in political science and a minor in women’s and gender studies. She received the Rice-Neville Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Dianne and Keith Bystrom of Plattsmouth, Nebraska.

Jazlyn Talley from Des Moines, Iowa, will graduate in August with a degree in political science and public relations with a minor in environmental studies. Talley was a recipient of a Phyllis Davis Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, which was endowed by multiple donors in memory of Davis. A former Catt Center intern, she will continue her current internship in Des Moines this summer.

Grace Tuzik from Algonquin, Illinois, was the Catt Center’s public relations and event management intern for two years. She graduated with a degree in public relations with a minor in event management. Post graduation, Tuzik will be moving home to Illinois to pursue a career in public relations.

Matthew Voss of Atkins, Iowa, is a former Catt Center intern and a Legacy of Heroines scholar. He graduated with a degree in statistics and minors in political science, economics, mathematics and computer science. Voss was awarded a Rice-Neville Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Dianne and Keith Bystrom of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. After graduation, he will attend graduate school for a master’s degree in public policy.

Cody Woodruff of Carlisle, Iowa, graduated with a degree in political science. Woodruff was the recipient of a Rice-Neville Legacy of Heroines Scholarship, supported by Dianne and Keith Bystrom of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. After graduation he hopes to work in Washington, DC, as a speech writer.