Gonyea Fellows

Student Managers

Marit Barkve, Gonyea Catering Manager

Shoreview, Minnesota

I am a proud Minnesotan but really have fallen for the Pacific Northwest. I am currently a senior at PLU and I am majoring in Norwegian Language and Global Studies (emphasis in Social Justice and Development studies). I will also be minoring in Political Science.

My future plans have a lot to do with what I learn during my last year at PLU. I am looking into Graduate Schools at the moment, but would like to experience something totally new before continuing my education.

Luke Hansen, Gonyea Grounds Manager

I am currently 20 years old and a junior at PLU. I was born in Anaheim, California but my hometown is Las Vegas, Nevada. I graduated as valedictorian of Faith Lutheran High School and participated in football, basketball, and track.

At PLU, I am the manager of Gonyea Grounds, and I also participate in PLU men's lacrosse. I am currently majoring in chemistry and biology and am interested in pursuing a  medical career as an interventional radiologist or infectious disease specialist to help the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa.

I am not sure where I will be in the future, but I know because life is about asking big questions and not knowing all the answers, I will live into the answers, whatever they may be.

Katrina Monroe, Gonyea Facilities Manager

I grew up in Edmonds, Washington as the middle child of four sisters.  I am now a senior at PLU and as an Elementary Education major I will be completing my student teaching this year.  In my studies I have especially focused on history and reading education.  PLU has been my home now for three years and I am a little sad to be leaving it after graduation in the spring, but I am excited to see what the future holds for me.

Ben Resare

Thousand Oaks, California

I am in my senior year at PLU and am a History Major with a Minor in Religion. After graduation, I am interested in going to Law School or Graduate School for a Masters in Higher Education Leadership and pursing a life of learning.

Gonyea Catering Staff

Zack AhYat

I am currently 18 years old and a freshman at PLU. I was born and raised in Kent, Washington. I attended Kentridge High School and played tennis there for all four years and have recently made the PLU Tennis Team. I plan on majoring in Business. After graduating from PLU, I am not completely sure of what I want to do with my business degree but I plan on exploring what God has planned for me.

Erik Arnits

Hi! My name is Erik Arnits and I am a sophomore at Pacific Lutheran University. My hometown is Longview Washington where I attended Mark Morris High School. I played football and soccer all four years. I see myself as driven, ambitious, and outgoing. I like to play sports, work on cars with my brother, wakeboard, ski, play guitar, and spend time with my friends and family.

 PLU has become a second home for me. Even after only being here a little over a year I have met so many people and been blessed with so much opportunity here. Here at PLU I love the community and meeting new people. On top of being a Gonyea Fellow I am involved in IM sports and Residential Life as and RA in Foss hall. I am currently majoring in Biology and intend to minor in Chemistry. My plan after I graduate PLU is to attend Dental School, and from there who knows!

Rebecca Brandtjen

Hi! I am 18 years old and currently a freshman at PLU. PLU is an amazing school, and I am blessed to have met such great friends who go here. I am planning on majoring in primary education and Spanish. I am originally from Fort Hood, Texas but moved up to Oregon when I was younger. Now, my hometown is located 5 miles out of Salem, Oregon. Music and swimming are my life. I love to sing, play the piano, and hope to learn the guitar sometime in the future. In high school, I was participated in chorale, concert choir, choraliares, and swimming. Also, I love the outdoors!

 In the future, I hope to travel the world teaching Spanish and English to students. Also, my junior year, I plan on studying abroad for a semester to Spain or New Zealand. I am looking forward to meeting everyone on the Gonyea Fellows Staff!

Jordan Carte

Polson, Montana

I am a sophomore from Polson, Montana. Aside from working at Gonyea I am a member of Choir of the West, and love to sing and play the piano. I am currently studying Political Science and Global Studies. I am really enjoying the adventure of life, and being a college student with so many blessings and opportunities.  I don't know exactly what the future holds for me, so I am just taking things one day at a time.

Rabecca Coyle

Sumner, Washington

I am currently a sophomore here at the wonderful PLU and am loving every minute of being a lute. I couldn't be any happier with where I am in life and excited for the journey ahead. I am hoping to major in Education (secondary) and teach leadership/asb. I am so blessed to be working with the Gonyea Staff. Being called a Gonyea Fellow as been an honor and if it weren't for the other Fellows, my life would not be complete! Each of them continue to inspire me daily. As for future plans its up in the air but I strongly believe that the big man upstairs has a plan for me so whatever it is I am more than okay with.

Jordan Daniels

Hey! I am a proud graduate of Sumner High School, just right down the road where my supportive and loving family also resides. I am currently a freshman here at PLU and love it! I enjoy being active, playing sports, baking (every Wednesday, stop by for some treats =]), a good vanilla chai tea frappechino, peanut butter, and being in the outdoors. I am also on the Women’s Soccer Team, which is so much fun, and I love all the girls!  I’m undecided on my major, but feel that things will fall into place these next few years. I can’t wait to discover what God has planned for me! I love to smile and believe that it’s the little things in life that make the biggest difference.

Emilie Firn

I am from Tacoma WA, after returning from living in London with my family for seven years.  I plan to graduate in 2009, majoring in Communication, with an emphasis in PR and advertising and a minor in history.  I am part of PLU’s Medialab and have spent a large part of my college career competing in and coaching crew. While at PLU, I have produced several videos, including one about Gonyea, assisting with two 40 minute documentaries, Building Connections: Reclaiming Lost Narratives of the Alaska-Canada Highway, Illicit Exchanges, and several other videos for local companies. I have traveled to Neah Bay WA, to study Makah culture as well traveling to the Virgin Islands and Tanzania to study photography and video.

I plan to get a Masters degree after finishing at PLU and travel around the world.  I plan to pursue a career in video documentary production.

Emily Isensee

Vancouver, Washington

I am a sophomore student pursuing a degree in business with minors in communication and religion. After I graduate I want to go into event planning, either planning festivals or conferences and maybe some day do event planning for the ELCA national office.

I currently work in Student Involvement and Leadership as a Leadership Fellow. Through this position I have developed and implemented a program to help first year students find
their leadership niche on campus. I also am very involved in the Lutheran church serving as Region 1 member-at-large for the Board of the National Lutheran Youth Organization. For this board I travel all over the US to meet with other youth leaders and work with youth in my region as well.

I just returned from a J-term course studying philosophy in England, Germany, and Greece. Being my first trip to Europe, I learned a tremendous amount about myself and the various cultures. I am eagerly anticipating studying away again either in China for a semester or on another future j-term trip.

Kelsey Larson

I'm a sophomore from Cambridge, MN. I'm an English major of the Writing
variety, and I have hopes of studying abroad in Norway next year. Sometime
in the near future, I hope to attend classes, enjoy them, study, have fun
with friends, work at Gonyea, brew my own coffee, take piano lessons, watch CSI: Miami, attend several Mika concerts, and enjoy my college experience as much as humanly possible.

Thomas Nelson

Hey there, I am Thomas Nelson; originally form Anacortes Washington, I moved to Anchorage Alaska for my senior year of high school. In high school I was an active member in Student government, choir and I was a wrestler. I was often at school more than most teachers.

I am a freshman here at PLU considering a dual major in Communication and Political science with a minor in business.  I love to keep myself busy and make my wildest ideas come alive.  PLU really appealed to my sense of home, with my big move to Alaska, a home is definitely what I was looking for.

After school, I plan on becoming a production manager and dealing with the business end of music festivals in the Pacific Northwest. After that, I plan on becoming a congressman. I plan on being the change that I want in the world.

Elise Nesselquist

Hi, I am Elise Nesselquist! I am a Sophomore this year, and can’t wait to see how this year plays out! I was born in Drammen, Norway but moved to Kenmore, Wa when I was younger with my family.

I play soccer for the PLU women’s soccer team and I am having a great time with that! My current major is Global Studies with a law and order concentration as well as Norwegian language. I am also thinking about a Political Science minor.

In addition to working at Gonyea, when I am not in season I also work at the Boys and Girls Club, which I absolutely adore. I work with the k-1 group, and the kids never cease to brighten my day!

As for my future, I don’t really know where I’m headed, but I plan on continuing my education after I graduate from PLU. I would also really love to travel to Greece and Italy, and perhaps study there. I also think it would be amazing to live in New York for a couple years!

Annie Norling

Sarah Sandgren

Fargo, North Dakota

This is my sophomore year at PLU and my second year working on the Gonyea Catering staff. I enjoy studying Political Science, History, and Spanish--majors and minors are still up in the air.  I am looking forward to studying in South America before my time at PLU is up.  After college, I have considered advanced degrees, working in the Foreign Service, and teaching.

Gonyea Grounds Staff

Kevin Beausoleil

I was born and raised in Tacoma Washington by two wonderful parents Duane and Vicki Beausoleil.  I chose Pacific Lutheran University because of the small class sizes and the welcoming attitude that fills the campus.

As of today I still have not declared a major or a minor, I am having a hard time limiting my self to one study.  I have explored a few topics that PLU has to offer but I do not want to miss what I truly want to do buy focusing too hard on one subject and possibly blind myself to other opportunities.

My future is unknown and I think I like it that way; I do not want to know where I will end up or how exactly I will get there. I would like to continue to be open to all possibilities throughout my life right up until the end. There are too many amazing things to experience in life for me to have a plan or to know where I am going. So I see myself in the future doing exactly what I am doing at PLU, looking forward to what comes next.

Tyler Faust

Zach Faust

I am a freshman at PLU and am on the football team, and might play baseball.  I participated in football, hockey, and baseball in high school.  I was also on student council in high school and was very active with community events.    I am from Minnesota and cannot believe how far away from home I am.

I am planning on majoring in chemistry.  After college I plan to go on to medical school, after medical school, I am planning on going to more school to become an anesthesiologist.

Austin Goble

This is my senior year at PLU.  I will be graduating in May with a B.S. in mathematical economics.  I am becoming very excited about finishing school and starting something brand new.  I don't yet know what that will be.  Last spring I studied in Turkey for a semester and would love to return to stay more than just 5 months finding either work, pursuing volunteer options, or simply visiting my host family. I am also now considering graduate school, finding a new interest in more education.  Or I could jump right into searching for a career, which I hope will involve city planning.  Life is exciting, isn't it?

Aaron Olson

Chaska, MN

I am currently a senior at PLU. I spent the first 13 years of my life living in Washington until my family moved to Chaska, Minnesota in 2000. I graduated from Chaska High School and participated in baseball, basketball and soccer.

It is hard for me to believe that it is my final year of college. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to attend such a well-rounded university. I am a business major with a concentration in finance and a Spanish minor. I played soccer for PLU my freshman year and remain active in intramural sports. I enjoy spending time with friends and am very open toward meeting new people.

In the future I would love to work for a company that focuses its business in South and Central America where I could utilize my Spanish speaking background. At this point in time, my future is unknown. I feel working hard and having a positive attitude toward life are essential in accomplishing my goals. Most importantly I am excited to live life to the fullest with the people I love.

Gonyea President's Office Staff

Sarah Curtis

Puyallup, Washington

I am currently a Junior here at PLU - continuing a family tradition of Lute-hood into the third generation.  Originally from Puyallup, I am proud to call the PLU campus a second home.  I am majoring in Philosophy and Women's & Gender Studies, two passions I found at PLU.

I am a student assistant in the Office of the President, a member of SAPET (Sexual Assault Peer Education Team), President/Instructor of the PLU Swing Club, am an avid photographer, and can be found swing & blues dancning in Seattle most nights.

Kristin Lentz

Hello! My name is Kristin Lentz and I am a Freshman at PLU. I am planning on majoring in business perhaps with an emphasis in international marketing. I am also considering getting my MBA or going to law school after I finish my undergraduate years at PLU. I am originally from Milbank, South Dakota. In high school I participated in football cheerleading, policy debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, individual speaking events, Key Club, band, choir, studio ballet dance, as well as working part time at the local veterinary clinic. So far I am really enjoying PLU and am excited to see what the future holds for me here.