
Sarah Saavedra ’22 shares her experience as a first-gen college student
Sarah Saavedra ’22 is a social work major with a minor in psychology and a certificate in Peace Corps Prep. The Auburn resident is the first in her family to go to college. She credits her many scholarships for navigating college as a first-year student.…

Makaela Whalen ’23 pursues newly launched pre-law minor
Makaela Whalen ’23 has a passion for the environment and animals. Her desire to find a meaningful vocation that feeds those passions resulted in her pursuing a degree in either environmental or animal law. “As long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to…
International student finds home away from home
Ricky Haneda ’22, a Japanese international student, share his experience at an American international school in Japan, how he decided to attend PLU, and how PLU has shaped his path toward a psychology major and a career in mental health and wellness. Keep reading to…

Q&A with Sophia Barro ’22 on her student teaching experience
Sophia Barro ’22 is a senior education major and religion minor at PLU. She recently completed full-time student teaching at Lakeview Hope Academy. We spoke with Barro about her experiences at PLU and as a student teacher, and about the values she hopes to inspire…

National Guard member and nursing major prioritizes service to his community
Before attending Pacific Lutheran University, Justyn Freeman ’23 served in the Air Force for six years. Now, he is a senior nursing major and will soon begin his residency at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. Justyn is a current member of the Washington Air…
Meet some Rieke Scholars
PLU Rieke Scholars talk about what it’s like to advocate for diversity, social justice, and sustainability in their communities. Keep reading to learn more about the program and how you can become a Rieke Scholar.

How the PLU community is addressing mental health
Walk across campus and you can see the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic everywhere. Masks on faces, signs reminding you to wash your hands, restrictions on classrooms and more. But the pandemic hasn’t just caused physical changes, but also unexpected mental challenges. And that is…
Hear from ASPLU Leadership
ASPLU President Cece Chan ’23 and Vice President Naomi Atnafu ’23 share their experience of being the first women of color to lead PLU’s Associated Students of Pacific Lutheran University.

Despite a shaky past, April Reyes ’21 built a strong foundation for her future
Social work major April Reyes ’21 loves to talk about her tattoos. She has 13 total, nine of which she received while studying at PLU. She struggles to choose a favorite but says she loves to flaunt the lotus flower on the back of her…
How to be a Lute: Diversity support groups and programs on campus
Mary Sarpong ’22 introduces you to different groups and programs on campus that support diversity.
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