Development of the Whole Person, one element of our Graduate Profile, is an underlaying theme of our Ursuline mission in educating young women. As students progress through their high school journey, they learn more about themselves, their learning styles and intelligence, their special interests, and their talents and abilities. These pieces all come together to help shape a young woman’s experience at Ursuline, and what she ends up getting involved in and finding joy in during her four years.
Fully realized, our development of the whole person allows for our students to go on and take reasonable risks to set goals for their future education and careers. Having the opportunity to participate in programs and activities outside of the classroom that enrich and add to their educational experience, gives students the confidence to take those risks, and seek out new opportunities. Ursuline is grateful to be able to provide these types of opportunities to our students.
We reached out to a few of our young alumnae, to share how they are finding these points to be true in college and in life, and share in celebrating their accomplishments.
Amanda Kohne ’20
Amanda Kohne ’20
Q: Where are you now, and what are you currently studying?
I am majoring in Aerospace engineering with a physics minor at Saint Louis University.
Q: What were you involved in while a student at Ursuline?
At Ursuline I was involved in the robotics team, cross country, track & field, National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Leadership for Diversity, and SAAC.
Q: What made you want to get involved in your extracurricular programs?
I wanted to get involved in extracurriculars at UA because it was a way for me to find things that I enjoyed doing. I knew I liked designing and building things, which is why I decided to join the robotics team that first year.
Q: How have you seen the benefits of that program playout for you in college?
As a part of the robotics team, I had hands-on experience in the STEM field and was pointed towards pursuing an engineering degree. Because of my time on the Bearbotics team, I have a lot of experiences that help me in my engineering classes at SLU. Through the Bearbotics team I was also introduced to Boeing and at SLU I was able to use that experience in applying and getting accepted into a Boeing Mentorship Program. Being able to say that I was a part of a FIRST Robotics team on my resume really looks great, and the experiences in the program were even better.
Q: How do you feel Ursuline prepared you for college and life?
I believe that Ursuline really prepared me for life and classes in college. Because of 1818 and AP credits, I am able to take more advanced classes at SLU as a first-year student. Ursuline’s teaching style also made it very easy to transition to college classes and helped me know how to study and prepare for classes.
Alyson Winkelmann ’19
Alyson Winkelmann ’19
Q: Where are you now, and what are you currently studying?
I am currently a sophomore at Mizzou studying industrial engineering.
Q: What were you involved in while a student at Ursuline?
My main accomplishment is that I was one of the founders of the Bearista Cafe. In addition, I was Vice President of the National Honor Society and an Ambassador for Ursuline. Also, I played tennis for all 4 years.
Q: What made you want to get involved in your extracurricular program?
I wanted to find something I was passionate about. I wanted to be a part of something where I could make an impact and gain leadership experience. I tried out different sports and clubs, but, ironically, it was an English project involving a proposal for a school improvement that transformed into my next extracurricular activity and where I found my passion- The Bearista Cafe.
Q: How have you seen the benefits of that program playout for you in college?
In college, I joined Zeta Tau Alpha and was recently named Vice President. And, I just started a co-op with Hubbell Power Systems working on documenting safe practices in their manufacturing plant. On a daily basis, I have seen where the Bearista Cafe experiences prepared me for these more challenging roles. Ursuline gave me the confidence to always think outside the box, to propose new ideas, and to follow through with a plan.
Q: How do you feel Ursuline prepared you for college and life?
I think Ursuline gave me a lot of opportunities to find myself and what my passions are. I tried playing different sports. I decided to play an instrument. I took dance classes. And I started a coffee shop. Ursuline not only gave me these opportunities to try new things but provided a safe environment to learn and grow. I really stepped out of my comfort zone to try new things. Through these opportunities, I learned so much about my strengths and weaknesses. But, the most important thing I learned was to challenge myself. The most impactful experience I had at Ursuline was starting the coffee shop. I was on a team that created and implemented a marketing, financial, and operational plan. Throughout the entire process, I grew in my leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
