![English Department Graduates](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/eng_dept_grads_header_v2[1588625102].jpg)
Fall 2020 & Winter 2021 Graduates
![Lauren Dimerc](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/lauren_dimerc_300x300_96[1619639757].jpg)
Lauren Dimerc
English Major, Elementary Education
"No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship." -James Comer
![Sidra Elvey](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/sidra_elvey_300x300_96[1619639787].jpg)
Sidra Elvey
English Major, Language & Literature
![Konnor French](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/konnor_french_300x300_96[1619639808].jpg)
Konnor French
English Major, Elementary Education
"I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou
![Lindsay Gibson](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/lindsay_gibson_300x300_96[1619639837].jpg)
Lindsay Gibson
English Major, Language & Literature
"Though she be but little, she is fierce" -William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
![Isabella Haskin](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/isabella_haskin_300x300_96[1619639881].jpg)
Isabella Haskin
English Major, Secondary Education
![Reka Hoving](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/reka_hoving_300x300_96[1620066206].jpg)
Reka Hoving
English Major, Language & Literature
"She recognized that strange happiness that came from loving something without knowing why you did. That strange happiness that was so big it felt like sadness- it was the way she felt when she looked at the stars." Maggie Stiefvater
![Brittani Kooiker](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/brittani_kooiker_300x300_96[1619639911].jpg)
Brittani Kooiker
English Major, Language & Literature
"We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered." -Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
![Don LaMar](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/don_lamar_300x300_96[1619640009].jpg)
Don LaMar
English Major, Language & Literature
![Ashly Latham](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/ashly_latham_300x300_96[1619640048].jpg)
Ashly Latham
English Major, Elementary Education
Fun Fact: I have 9 different versions of monopoly.
![Angela Maio](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/angela_maio_300x300_96[1619640072].jpg)
Angela Maio
English Major, Secondary Education
Be the Change!
![Lauren Maus](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/lauren_maus_300x300_96[1619819359].jpg)
Lauren Maus
English Major, Secondary Education
Stay humble, work hard, be kind.
![Aubree Oleander](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aubree_oleander_300x300_96[1619640088].jpg)
Aubree Oleander
English Major, Language & Literature
![Emily Pierson](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/emily_pierson_300x300_96[1619640143].jpg)
Emily Pierson
Master of Arts in English
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short." -Jane Austen
![Alice Pozzobon](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/alice_pozzobon_300x300_96[1619640187].jpg)
Alice Pozzobon
Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics
"There's some good in this world, and it is worth fighting for." -The Lord of The Rings
![Emily Sandborn](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/emily_sandborn_300x300_96[1619640211].jpg)
Emily Sandborn
English Major, Secondary Education
"Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?" -F.S
![Lauren Smith](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/lauren_smith_300x300_96[1619640228].jpg)
Lauren Smith
English Major, Secondary Education
“Women comprehend not merely with the intellect but also with the heart.” -St. Edith Stein
![Alaina Wierenga](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/alaina_wierenga_300x300_96[1619819970].jpg)
Alaina Wierenga
English Major, Elementary Education
![Kristie Winslow](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/kristie_winslow_300x300_96[1619640248].jpg)
Kristie Winslow
English Major, Language & Literature
“You are the Hero of your own Story.” ―Joseph Campbell
Class of 2020 - Winter 2020 Graduates
Because we were unable to celebrate our graduates at April Commencement this year, English majors in the Class of 2020 were invited to participate in a virtual celebration of their achievements until we’re able to salute them at the special October Commencement ceremony. Our graduates who chose to participate are listed below. (If you are a 2020 graduate who did not receive our invitation to submit your information, please contact [email protected] and we'll be very happy to update the page to include you.)
Whether you chose to submit your information for inclusion on this page or not, please know that the faculty and staff of the English Department are enormously proud of you and all that you have achieved during your time at GVSU. We wish you all the best as you head into the next stage of your lives. You are now Lakers for a Lifetime and we hope you’ll keep us updated with news about your adventures and successes in the future!
![Claire Amat with cows](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/amat_claire_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Claire Amat
English Major, Elementary Education
"I love working with children. Grown-ups never ask me what my third favorite reptile is" -Unknown
![Aimee Ash](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/ash_aimee_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Aimee Ash
English Major, Secondary Education; Math Teaching Minor
![Rachel Azure](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/azure_rachel_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Rachel Azure
English Major, Writing Major
![Yara Barbosa](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/barbosa_yara_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Yara Barbosa
English Major, Secondary Education; Applied Linguistics Minor - Teaching
"Got writer's block trying to write 50 words about myself." -An English Major
![Sarah Belanger](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/belanger_sarah_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Sarah Belanger
English Major, Language and Literature
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Mackenzie Bush
English Major, Elementary Education
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory” -Dr. Seuss
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Alanna Rheann Campbell
English Major, Language and Literature
I loved Louie the Laker, but for some reason I waited 4 years to get my selfie with him!! I’ll be back Louie!
![Abigail Caniff](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/caniff_abigail_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Abigail Caniff
English Major, Elementary Education
Be a sunflower in a field of roses.
![Elinore DeBrule](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/debrule_elinore_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Elinore DeBrule
English Major, Secondary Education
"The world will say to you: What are you going to do? Do not be afraid to say I know I can't do everything but I can do something." -Cleo Wade
![Gillian Eisenbraun](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/eisenbraun_gillian_300x300_96(2)[1588619078].jpg)
Gillian Eisenbraun
English Major, Elementary Education
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Chloe Ford
English Major, Language and Literature
![Roderick Munro](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/munro_roderick_300x300_96[1588625655].jpg)
Roderick Francis Munro
English Major, Language and Literature
"And you awake and there you are
Not far off from the line before
And just how long did it take for you to understand
Where your feelings stopped and writing began
Convince yourself to take control
Play to the hilt this unlikely role"
-Will You Smile Again For Me?
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
![Amanda Gabriel](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/gabriel_amanda_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Amanda Gabriel
English Major, Secondary Education; Applied Linguistics Minor - Teaching
![Hannah Gallon](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/gallon_hannah_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Hannah Victoria Gallon
English Major, Secondary Education; Applied Linguistics Minor - Teaching
“Keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden.” - Cormac McCarthy
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Emily Gilbert
English Major, Elementary Education
"For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, The Lord will be my light." Micah 7:8
![Bailey Golliday](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/golliday_bailey_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Bailey Golliday
English Major, Secondary Education
Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined. -Toni Morrison
![Devan Gorton](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/gorton_devan_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Devan Gorton
English Major, Elementary Education
It’s my turn to teach.
![Kara Helms](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/helms_kara_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Kara Helms
English Major, Elementary Education
![Sabrina Hochhuth](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/hochhuth_sabrina_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Sabrina Hochhuth
English Major, Elementary Education
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Wendy Hoekstra
English Major, Elementary Education
The distance is nothing when one has the motive.
![Emily Ketola](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/ketola_emily_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Emily Ketola
English Major, Language & Literature
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Lesley Lobdell
English Major, Elementary Education
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Kelly MacKillop
English Major, Elementary Education
"Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings and propel us, on occasion, to greatness." -R. A. Palacio
![Cassandra McCraney](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/mccraney_cassandra_300x300_96[1588795909].jpg)
Cassandra McCraney
English Major, Secondary Education
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Ashley Munger (Kippes)
English Major, Elementary Education
"Education is a passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." - Malcolm X
![Ashley Quinn](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/quinn_ashley_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Ashley Quinn
Master of Arts in English
"Those of us who feel more (and see in darker spectrums) may be sick puppies, but we're also lively puppies. Brave puppies too, because we keep on trucking in the face of everything we know can go wrong" - Stephen King, Danse Macabre
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Brittanie Railling
English Major, Elementary Education
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Sophie Rickey
English Major
Adventure is out there!
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Rachel Rye
English Major, Elementary Education
![Kennedy Sauer](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/sauer_kennedy_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Kennedy Sauer
English Major, Secondary Education
"Although good teaching uses routines, it is seldom routine. Good teaching depends on sensibility and imagination. It courts surprise. It profits from caring. In short, good teaching is an artistic affair." -Elliot Eisner, "The Kind of Schools We Need", 1998
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Paige Spender
English Major, Elementary Education
"Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light" - Albus Dumbledore
![Taylor Stowe](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/stowe_taylor_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Taylor Stowe
English Major, Elementary Education
“We’re all going through life for the first time.”
![Madison Strait](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/strait_madison_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Madison Strait
English Major, Elementary Education
“All you need is faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust.”
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Evan Sturgeon
English Major, Secondary Education
![Brianne Tyler](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/tyler_brianne_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Brianne Tyler
English Major, Language and Literature; Applied Linguistics Minor
It only took me ten years but look mom and dad, I finally graduated! :)
![Class of 2020 graphic](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/aaclass_of_2020[1588609659].jpg)
Carly Vaitkevicius
English Major; Applied Linguistics Minor
![Anisha Weeks](/cms4/asset/0997AC3A-AE88-02ED-3563FA41E22F48F9/weeks_anisha_300x300_96[1588609659].jpg)
Anisha M Weeks
English Major, Elementary Education
Tough times don’t last, tough people do.