Success Stories Archive - Hastings College

Birk follows inspiration from ‘Criminal Minds’ to find her passion

Her appreciation of the show “Criminal Minds” allowed Hastings College junior Caitlin Birk to combine her interests in psychology and criminology, which led her to an internship at a sheriff’s office in Nebraska’s most populous county. Before coming to Hastings, Birk, who is from Bennington, Nebraska, knew she wanted to do something in psychology, but …

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Worthington finds success at Ithaca College internship

Senior Sammie Worthington set herself up for success with summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). Worthington spent two months working with other undergraduate students on Ithaca College’s campus doing mathematical research. During her junior year, Worthington started to consider what she could do over the summer to better prepare for graduate school. She talked with …

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Opportunities at Hastings College help Polacek ’22 pursue art therapy (video)

Since she was young, Josie Polacek, who graduated in May with distinction in psychology, knew she wanted to become a practicing art therapist and counselor. To do that, she knew she had to go to graduate school after Hastings College — and with the help of Hastings faculty, she was accepted into her first choice …

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Tippl aims to build community, support bars and restaurants

Four friends who met at Hastings College are living their dream of owning a business together — and helping their community while doing it. “We’ve always had the desire to start a business with our friends. A little bit over a year and a half ago we decided to make that a reality,” said Mark …

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Weeks directed first show she was in for senior capstone

Audrey Weeks, theatre education and language arts education major from Hastings, Nebraska, went from acting in “Willy Wonka JR.,” to directing it. Weeks has been involved with Hastings Community Theatre (HCT) since she was 11, when her very first show was “Willy Wonka JR.” Now, years later and for her senior capstone project, Weeks moved …

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Alumni come together after years apart to put on play

The play “Strong City” is full of Hastings College alumni. “We’re doing a sort of renegade reunion,” the writer of the play, Paige MJ Erickson ‘00, said, as the director and almost all of the cast are alumni. Cast members include Amber Wormington ‘00/MAT ’05, Tim Steffensmeier ’97, Carly Spotts-Falzone ’19, Miranda Miller-Klugesherz ’15 and …

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Caplinger takes advantage of opportunities for real world experience

At Hastings College, students are able to work toward professional goals early in their college career, something Victoria Caplinger, a sophomore from Effingham, Kansas, has made a priority during her first two years of college. A political science major, Caplinger’s ultimate goal is to go into the Foreign Service and work as a Foreign Service …

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Ellis showcases artistic talents through painting murals

Savanah Ellis spent last summer in a basement. Painting for more than 100 hours in that basement, she was able to complete a full room mural for the Axtell (Nebraska) First Presbyterian Church. Ellis, who just finished her junior year at Hastings College, was approached about this project by her brother and church pastor Logan …

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Starting up: Cermak mentors next generation of entrepreneurs

Levi Cermak ’18 has viewed life through an entrepreneurial lens for as long as he can remember. As a youngster, he sold candy bars and bookmarks to his friends and watched his grandparents run small businesses. As a Hastings College marketing and business major with a passion for art, he assisted other students in the …

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Downing spends spring semester in Northern Ireland

Hastings College junior Emma Downing is spending the spring semester studying abroad at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Downing is taking courses in history and anthropology, which pairs well with her history and sociology majors at Hastings. Since her arrival in January, Downing, who is from Colorado Springs, Colorado, said she’s had an amazing …

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