As a “townie,” my family has deep connections to St. Olaf. My mom was the first to go to college in her family and she was also a “non-traditional” student, attending after getting married and already having my three older siblings. I grew up hearing about how campus looked before I was born, about how my mom would bring my siblings to class, and about all of the other memories that my parents and siblings shared on campus while my mom was attending.

Following her path, my brothers are also St. Olaf alumni, graduating in 2003 and 2008. During their time on the Hill I was in elementary school down the street at Greenvale, and I have many memories of visiting them to eat at the Cage or to hang out in Ytterboe. But most of all, the sight of Old Main from Highway 19 is my greatest memory. Seeing it in my youth, I would dream about my chance to be an Ole. When that time finally came, I actually had my first class (an 8 a.m. religion class) in that very building I’d pass everyday. Studying in Old Main was a sense of accomplishment. I was proud to be an Ole and to continue a family legacy of “townies” at St. Olaf.