Major: Business Administration with Finance Emphasis

Salma’s summer internship at Boeing lead her to SPU. Salma was tasked with reducing the number of unpaid invoices, totaling about $1.3 million. She said “I had to ask what we could do moving forward to make sure things can be paid in a timely manner in the future." Salma coordinated with teams, and now the invoice status is 99% current.

Major: Dietetics

Hannah started studying engineering, but then found her passion in dietetics. She volunteered to part of SPU’s annual Body Positive Week. “You can never have too much positivity in the world, and I feel like what we are doing is spreading that,” she said. “Giving someone a flower or information or a button can just brighten their day or even inform them of something, and they can spread that around.”

Major/Minor: Self-designed major in international studies: peace and conflict resolution, and culture and minor in French. 

With her self-designed major, Anne will work with TAPIF (Teaching Assistant Program in France) after graduation. She said it would be hard to identify her favorite classes. "The professors at SPU are absolutely incredible, and I have felt so lucky to study under them. There are so many courses that have incredibly enticing and challenging content, but for me what has made the best classes has been the professors.”

Major: Dietetics 

The dietetics major was accepted into the very competitive post-graduate dietetic internship at Oregon Health & Science University. One of her professor’s wrote, “As an international student from China, she entered a new culture, proficiently learned English, and has become a leader both among her nutrition peers and among all international students at the university.”

Major/Minor: Computer Science and Applied Math (double major)

The computer science and applied math major was part of a team that finished in the top 10 in a math competition, out of 5728 submissions! He’s heading to Amazon to work as a software developer.

Majors: Mechanical Engineering and General Engineering

The mechanical engineering major was a member of SPU’s Baja SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) team, and spent countless hours designing and building a single-seat, all-terrain recreational sporting vehicle prototype for the yearly competition. 

Major: Theater Education 

Everything changed for Micaela when she took her first acting class, which led to her favorite class, Auditioning, with Professor Vance. "Auditions are daunting, but this class was far from that. I loved being able to workshop monologues and learn audition tricks from an incredible professor while surrounded by encouraging peers.”

Major: Computer Science

Throughout Hector’s time at SPU, he used his technical skills to help in the School of Education, University Communications, Computer and Information Systems, and also worked at a tutor in the Computer Science Lab.

Major: Applied Mathematics and Psychology

As she heads to UCLA to pursue a PhD in psychology, Jessica says her favorite and most challenging class was Probability and Statistics. "Through this class, and with the help of professors who care enough to take the time to help me figure out what I'm passionate about, I ended up finding statistics to be a major area of overlap between psychology and mathematics."

Major/Minor: Communication Studies

A walk-on to the women’s rowing team, Jacqueline became the varsity coxswain and competed in the NCAA championships. “But even more exciting than a chance at a national championship title is the dedication that I’ve developed and the incredible friendships I’ve made with my teammates. You can’t go through life alone any more than you can cross the finish line at a regatta alone.” 

Major: Food and Nutritional Sciences: Dietetics 

The future dietitian says the Faith, Philosophy, and Science class with Professor Benton challenged her faith and made it stronger. “My favorite memory of SPU is meeting all the amazing professors I had the honor of working with and all the wonderful discussions we had together that helped me to grow personally and intellectually.’

Major: Art Photography/Digital Media

These four graduating seniors showcased their work at a special exhibit titled "Between Worlds" at SPU’s Art Center Gallery. They talk about their work in a recent Falcon news story.

Major: Food and Nutrition Dietetics Emphasis

Clarice was a volunteer at Swedish Hospital, and that motivated her to pursue the opportunity to become a public health dietitian. The international student is thankful for her time at SPU. “I will definitely say that I love being part of SPU community, and I thank God every day for bringing me to SPU to equip me.”

Major: Finance

One of the first things Ben did when he came to campus was meet with a financial aid counselor who helped him develop a plan that would make paying for college possible. “Get your FAFSA done early and investigate your scholarship, grant, and loan options,” he says. “Then, apply to work study jobs. You can make it happen.”

Graduate: Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with an emphasis in Finance (SPU Class of 2019)

Undergraduate: Double Major – Business Administration with an emphasis on International Business and Financial Economics  (SPU Class of 2015)

The MBA graduate, who double majored in business administration and global development as an undergraduate at SPU, landed a consulting contract in South America. “With the education I have received from SPU, I can now take my skills anywhere in the world. SPU has allowed me to think globally; working in Europe, Asia, or Latin America is no longer a dream but a reality.” 

Major: Global Development 

Madisynn found her calling in working towards creating systems, structures, and institutions that allow for people to have opportunities to live lives that they see as valuable and fulfilling. “Storytelling is also such a big part of so many of these cultures, that when we take away people’s ability to tell stories and listen to stories, that is taking away a huge part of their culture and history,” McCombs said.

Major: Sociology

Student researcher Micailah interviewed Tent City 3 residents during their stay at SPU in 2018. She was also interviewed by The New York Times when the paper featured Tent City 3.

Major: Psychology

Throughout her time at SPU, Jessica has experienced personal growth by seeing a counselor, which has laid the path for her to become a counselor herself one day. “I think as a counselor, I feel confident to work to hold hope for people when they don’t see it themselves,” she said.

Major: Psychology

Justin has been a key member in AnteUp, SPU’s hip-hop dance club, where students are given a space to express themselves in community with others through motion. “The important aspect is being able to tell your own story, not just by using words, but also by showing your emotion, showing your movements, and presenting yourself in a way that words cannot describe,” said Justin.

Major/Minor: Economics with a concentration in International Business and Business Analytics

Kaitlyn says one of her favorite memories was a field trip to Seattle's Pike Place Market. "We grabbed coffee and donuts, and walked around and talked about economics in real time. It was a testament to the investment and intentionality the professors have with students, as well as the community and relationships that have been built among the students."

Major: Biochemistry

Joseph’s love for music led him to form the a cappella group, Cry of the Falcon. The active volunteer and member of the men’s service group Centurions is grateful for faculty who encouraged him. “I’ve been challenged here to learn about my faith to understand and defend what I believe. It has been a huge blessing and a source of peace in my life.”

Major: Business Administration with Finance Emphasis

Deyon was the only intern in board meetings with top executives at Aetna and CVS during one of the largest health care mergers in United States history. “The internship made me feel like ‘this is what school is for,’” he says. “There’s something greater that we need to be prepared for.”

Major: Fashion Merchandising

As president of MODE, SPU’s fashion club, Nina worked with Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) to create a special event in conjunction with the museum's Seattle Style: Fashion/Function exhibit. She said, “What I enjoy most about the fashion show is no matter what anybody’s journey has been, … I just see everybody come together, happy and confident, knowing they are capable of doing something great.”

Triple Major: Accounting, Business Administrator & Developmental Economics

After the passing of her roommate Erin Kimminau, Nettie took a break to find what her purpose truly was. She said, “I wanted to do something that at the end of my life I can look back and say, ‘I’m so happy I spent my life doing that...making a difference, or trying to.'”

Major/Minor: Communications / Computer Science

As a first-generation student, Crystal took advantage of every opportunity to learn and experience new things. She found resources on- and off-campus to help make college affordable. "I was on my own when it came to paying SPU, but I wasn't completely alone on my journey. I have found so many amazing mentors at SPU and in other companies who genuinely want to help me succeed." 

Major: Mechanical engineering

Leanna’s hometown newspaper the Carson City News featured her academic and volunteer work as a student, as well as her plans after graduation.

Major/Minor: Master of Education in School Counseling

A leader and organizer of many campus events, Stephanie says she loved bringing the community together. “It was great to be a part of the SPU and School of Education community. I couldn’t have accomplished it all without that feeling of community and the support it brings.’

Laarni Aguila, (BS in Cell & Molecular Biology); Hayley Cheyney Kane (BS in Physiology), Leslie Rodriguez-Sala (BS in Biochemistry), Simone Neal (BA in Biology) and Cienn Joyeux (BS in Cell & Molecular Biology) are the first graduates of this program that supports first generation students and those traditionally underrepresented in biological and biomedical sciences. This leadership program works to build community, promote academic success, and create mentoring networks.

Minor: Information Studies

Richie Gamiño, Abbe Blank, and Mary Christensen are the first students to graduate with the new minor in information studies. Their service learning project involved reviewing grant applications with the City of Seattle, which helped distribute $320,000 to organizations trying to address underserved populations and the “digital divide."