Alumni Stories

Kondrich brings articles to life for the Washington Post
Michelle Kondrich’s illustrations are captivating. With a stroke of her digital brush, the Hastings College graduate and current illustrator and art director for the Washington Post Op-Ed division, breathes life into complex…

Whetstone ’18 helps communities understand the past
Dr. Brian Whetstone ’18 knows that history lives well beyond textbooks and traditional classrooms. It exists in the museums we visit, the trails we hike, the documentaries we watch, the events we…

Hastings High School class establishes scholarship to honor Sergeant ‘68, beloved reunion organizer
Organizing a high school reunion is often a thankless job, but members of the Hastings High School Class of 1964 found a unique way to honor the classmate who’s tracked down addresses,…

Tyrell navigates complex world of financial tech
Hastings College graduate Blake Tyrell is making waves in the financial technology industry at Fiserv, a leading global provider of innovative payment and technology solutions that drive commerce and connect businesses, financial…

Hastings College: Confidence amidst changes
It’s a tough world for higher education in America. But even with the cards stacked against small colleges, Hastings College is showing that through planning and partnerships, the numbers don’t have to…

Connection with Crimson Tide leads Wilson to the Patriots
In what could be described as an athletic trainer’s dream job, exercise science graduate Julyah Wilson ’22 interned this past summer with the New England Patriots, the NFL team that dazzled fans…

How the tunes spin: Q&A with Duane Harriott ’96
After earning a bachelor’s degree in English at Hastings College, Duane Harriott ‘96 moved to New York City and made its music scene home. Currently, he’s a music consultant for Gray V,…

REU success story: Mentorship makes a difference for McClure
Landing one research experience for undergraduates (REU) is an accomplishment for a student in the sciences. Milly McClure, a senior from Liberal, Kansas, landed four. The physics and mathematics major spent summer…

From wildlife to pets: Manglitz pursues advanced vet degree
Adam Manglitz’s wildlife biology degree has been a ticket to exotic experiences. As a student at Hastings College, Manglitz ‘18 traveled to Honduras to scuba dive with sharks and hold a white-faced…

Hergott ’05 lands role on ‘Law & Order’
Don’t be surprised if Keithen Hergott ’05 looks familiar. Even if you didn’t attend class, play football or run track with him at Hastings College, you still might recognize his face. Maybe…

Arrington-Williams brings nature, community together at Prairie Loft
Megan Arrington-Williams ’09, executive director of Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning, spends her days connecting people of all ages to the wonders of the natural world. On field trips…

Video: How Jaffe’s custom major launched a career in wildlife education
As a Hastings College student, Devin Jaffe ’09 built her own major, wildlife management, based on her interests. It was so successful, it ultimately ended up supporting the launch of the wildlife…

Beachly to continue exploring as he steps into retirement after 27 years at Hastings College
Dr. Bill Beachly believes the best learning happens not in lectures but on adventures, which is why in nearly three decades as a Hastings College wildlife biology professor, he’s taken countless students…

Rempp looking to next chapter after 25 years at Hastings College
Teachers have the most incredible job. The future of the world walks through their doors — doctors and politicians, farmers and business people, bankers and truck drivers — and a teacher impacts…

‘A genuine professor’ with amazing ability to connect with students, Schneider to retire after 39 years of service
“A teacher’s influence doesn’t stay in school. It goes out into the world and cannot truly ever be measured. Every student you inspire to do something great goes on to inspire others.…

Koozer ’06 builds programs to challenge the status quo
A standout vocal performer during her years at Hastings College, Dr. Maggie Koozer ’06 was a soloist in productions of Handel’s “Messiah” and Mozart’s “Requiem,” the female lead in the musical comedy…