2020-2021 GNS+ Graduates

Congratulations to all of our GNS+ graduates!

GRADUATE
Richard Hronek
Bridgette Stoeckel
Maria Kustova

UNDERGRADUATE
Kendall Allen
Chelsea Bargone
Jacob Bartelt
Samuel Charnon
Megan Feeley
Noah Forehand
Aleksandra Grulkowski
Charlotte Herbolsheimer
Emily Janicik
Josef Jochem
Bryce Linden
Nicholas Mayer
McKenna Mulvey
Nicholas North
David Owen
Carly Peterson
Alannah Rapp
Ellen Robison
Molly Rouse
Annie Salcedo
Samuel Templin
Maxwell Thorpe
Claudia Torres Giraldo
Linus Weissbach
Sarah Wilhite
Angela Arnholt
Adam Baranek
Chelsea Bargone

Sophie Beckfield
Jack Bremhorst
Elizabeth Brown
Gary Cai
Grace Carlson
Abigail Case
Clarice Danen
Taylor Eilers
Adam El Hendy Gunnarsson
Gabrielle Every
Wade Flavion
Brianna Forsman
Han Geng
Yujie Maggie Guo
Brighid Hartnett
Jennifer Heck
Nina Hengelfelt
Jarret Henning
Adam Johnson
Valentino Juergens
Laura Kelley
Anastasiya Kelnhofer
Bethany Kiley
Robijn Kleijwegt
Hans Koenig
Kevin Koesser
William Krentz
Rebecca Kressuk
Andreas Kyrvasilis
Thomas Laidlaw
Nicholas Lasecki
Samantha Lawson
Catherine Lowery
Annika Madler

Zachary Marquardt
Steven Martell
Emma McKeel
Charlotte Melcher
Marina Minic
Cheryl Mulor
Michael Orth
Victoria Pott
Nickolaus Puster
Alannah Rapp
Emma Raschka
Rachel Riese
Ellen Robison
Albiona Sabani
Elizabeth Schuetz
Morgan Schwartzman
Joshua Sepic
Alex Shelhamer
Jackson Smith
Eleanor Stark
Josef Swanson
Baily Syring
Hannah Taylor
Brandy Thielen
Amelia Viegut
Shuyu Wang
Samuel Wank
Jack Weronka
Luke Yahr
Ariel Yang
Yue Yin
Nicholas Zeinemann
Andrew Zipp

Student Profiles

Real Estate, Finance, International Business (Majors) and German (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
The film course with Professor Schueller!

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
GEN BUS 301 – Business Law

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I learned that time moves really quickly, and that working to find the perfect balance between a social life, mental/physical health, and academics is imperative.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Honestly, the late night study sessions at the library were some of my favorite moments from college. Me and my friends would stay at the library all day, and it sounds terrible, but the comradery and the friendships created from suffering together are really special.

I also will never forget all the bike rides around the lake, and the sunsets we watched over the Terrace 🙂

What are your future plans and dreams?
I am working at an investment trust for the next two years during my gap year in Denver, CO. After, I will be attending law school to earn my J.D/M.B.A. and hopefully work in international corporate law (and put my German certificate to use!)

Any advice for incoming students?
It’s cheesy, and I feel like my parents for saying this, but college goes by SO quickly. There are days and weeks where it will feel long and exhausting, but I’m now a senior and it feels like I’ve barely been here two years.

Prioritize getting the most out of your college experience, join a club, say yes to getting dinner with the random people in your dorm, develop a relationship with your professors and classmates, but be careful not to burn yourself out. If it doesn’t make you happy/isn’t important to your goals, drop it.

Advice to incoming German students: the instructors in the German department are truly excellent, and really work hard to develop relationships with their students. Highly recommend going to office hours just to chat with them!

Political Science, German (Majors)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 285 – Intermeidate Intensive Honors German

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
POLI SCI 359 – American Foreign Policy

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Running along the shore of Lake Mendota, where there is a beautiful view of the Madison skyline and the Capitol building lit up at night.

What are your future plans and dreams?
I may either attend law school or complete a master’s degree. I would also love to go back to Freiburg, Germany at some point!

Any advice for incoming students?
Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, you never know where it might take you.

Genetics & Genomics, German (Majors)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 276 – From Grimm to Gryffindor: German Fairytales (Re)Imagined with Melissa Sheedy

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
GENETICS 520 – Neurogenetics

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I work best under a lot of pressure.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Making some of my best friends and Badger football games.

What are your future plans and dreams?
Research for two years and then genetic counseling school, then maybe working in Germany.

Any advice for incoming students?
Enjoy your classes, they are more fun when you put in effort.

Operations & Technology Management, Supply Chain Management, International Business (Majors) and East Central European Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
LITTRANS 207 – Slavic Science Fiction Through Literature And Film

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
OTM 451 – Service Operations Management

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I learned that authenticity takes a lot of effort.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
I genuinely enjoyed (and miss) running into people I know in campus buildings and sharing my coveted table with them.

What are your future plans and dreams?
I will be working for SubZero in Fitchburg for at least the next 3 years. However, my goal is to move out of state and have an adventure that I have yet to conjure up.

Any advice for incoming students?
Focus on managing stress and time as early as possible so that you can enjoy the rest of your UW experience.

Biology, Computer Sciences, Mathematics (Majors) and Biocore, German (Certificates)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 258 – Intermediate German-Reading

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
MMI 575 – Biology of Viruses

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I didn’t know I’m so good at cooking until I was away from my family haha.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Walking on the frozen Mendota lake.

What are your future plans and dreams?
I will continue my graduate study at Harvard Medical School!

Strategic Communications (Majors) and Public Policy, German (Certificates)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
German Linguistics with Professor Mark Louden.

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Contemporary Public Policy Issues with Professor Tim Smeeding, or Media Law with Professor Katy Culver.

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
A good work ethic is important, but the ability to recognize when you need to step away and take time for yourself or be present with friends & family is much, much more important.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
It’s so hard to choose one! If I had to pick, I’d probably say football games, because I loved spending the entire day with my friends.

What are your future plans and dreams?
Currently applying for jobs and hoping that something works out! In the meantime, my roommates and I are leaving for a two-week-long RV trip to visit some national parks following graduation.

Any advice for incoming students?
Appreciate the time you have in college while you can — these four years are an incredibly valuable season of life, filled with direct access to educational material, noteworthy faculty and an entire campus full of new people to meet. Take any worthwhile opportunity that comes your way, and never stop seeking out new connections within the campus community!

Italian, International Studies (Majors) and European Studies, German (Certificates)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 249 – Intermediate German – Speaking And Listening

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
BOTANY 123 – Plants, Parasites, And People

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I learned that I wouldn’t be satisfied staying in Wisconsin my entire life and that I really wanted to emigrate to Europe!

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Using dining hall trays to sled down Bascom Hill during winter finals week with friends.

What are your future plans and dreams?
I hope to get my Master degree from a European university and then get a work visa to stay and make my life there. I would love to travel as much as possible, to meet as many fascinating people as I can, and if I’m very lucky, to one day have a house with a view of the Alps.

Any advice for incoming students?
Don’t be afraid to take courses that seem interesting to you and/or change your major! You don’t have to choose a field of study you’re not passionate about just because it’s more profitable than others. There are opportunities available to you that you have no idea exist right now.

Astronomy, Physics (Majors) and German (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 352 – Topics in German Linguistics – specifically with Professor Mark Louden! Or LITTRANS 326 – Travel and Dutch Literature with Professor Jolanda Vanderwal Taylor!

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
E M A/ASTRON 550 – Astrodynamics

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I learned how to become a leader in a male-dominated major.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Attending open mic night at the terrace!

What are your future plans and dreams?
Attend graduate school and work for a space company!

Any advice for incoming students?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! You will end up creating a better relationship with your professors which will help you throughout your undergraduate career.

Molecular & Cell Biology (Major) and German (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 258 – Intermediate German-Reading

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
MUSIC 60 – All-University String Orchestra

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Game days at Camp Randall and dancing with friends during music nights at the terrace.

What are your future plans and dreams?
I will be attending medical school at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Any advice for incoming students?
Reach out to your professors during office hours or after class. They will most likely prove to be amazing mentors. Also, take advantage of the wide course options and try some fun classes!

Psychology, Philosophy (Majors) and German (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 102 – Second Semester German

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
PHILOS 530 – Freedom, Fate, and Choice or PSYCH 601 – Current Topics in Psychology

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I learned that I have the capabilities to understand a plethora of information from many different areas of studies.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Traveling around the country for club tennis tournaments was the most fun.

What are your future plans and dreams?
I’ll be attending law school next fall.

Any advice for incoming students?
Choose courses in areas that you will enjoy and have an interest in rather than what is simply required.

Biochemistry, Neurobiology (Majors) and German, Ethics (Certificates)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 351 – Introduction to German Linguistics

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
ZOOLOGY 523 – Neurobiology

What are your future plans and dreams?
I am planning to attend an MD/PhD or PhD program in a year or two. I hope to become a faculty researcher in neuroscience someday to improve treatments for people with dementia or psychiatric diseases.

Any advice for incoming students?
Take classes that sound interesting during your first few years (even if it doesn’t sounds like something you would have taken in high school): you might realize that you really like that topic and want to take more classes in that subject or with that professor.

Genetics & Genomics, German (Majors)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 258 – Intermediate German-Reading

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
GENETICS 527 – Developmental Genetics and Conservation

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I can handle a lot more than I expected!

What is your favorite memory from UW?
My entire AYF experience. I have a lot of anecdotes I could share about it but picking one is too hard.

What are your future plans and dreams?
Doing a PhD in Freshwater Sciences at UWM starting next year, and hopefully using that to understand the impact of pollution and climate change on aquatic life.

Any advice for incoming students?
Pursue passions outside of your career path—you never know where it may take you!

Chemistry, Environmental Studies (Majors) and East Central European Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
Serbo-Croatian Classes,

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
HISTORY 125 – Green Screen: Environmental Perspectives Through Film

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Gamedays!

What are your future plans and dreams?
After graduation I would love to do some traveling and maybe work at a vineyard. There is also a good chance I will be going to grad school sometime in the next couple of years. I hope to eventually do something that combines scientific research and environmental issues in order to help fight climate chance and injustice.

Any advice for incoming students?
I have two pieces of advice! First is to take interest in your classes because they are much more engaging and rewarding when you put in some work. Second is to get involved with a club or movement while on campus. It’s really the best way to create a network of people on campus and to get involved in work that you are passionate about.

German, Linguistics (Majors) and Italian (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 351 – German Linguistics with Mark Louden

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
LINGUIS 571 – Structure of a Language

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Going to Badger football games.

Any advice for incoming students?
Make sure to enjoy your time here, and take classes that you are passionate about.

Political Science, Russian (Majors) and Southeast Asian Studies (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
SLAVIC 465 – Advanced Readings in Russian Literature and Culture

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
ASIAN 630 – Communism, Anarchism and Other Asian Lefts

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
It is okay to be frustrated and stressed about school, but it will always work out and it will always pay off.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
I had the opportunity to study abroad in Croatia during the summer of my junior year and it was truly one of the best experiences I have ever had.

What are your future plans and dreams?
My dream job is to work with the Halo Trust to help clear leftover landmines in Cambodia.

Any advice for incoming students?
Studying actually helps!

Marketing, Management (Majors) and German (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
China from the German perspective.

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
MARKETNG 355 – Marketing in the Digital Age.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
All the great people I met!

What are your future plans and dreams?
Planning on working for a hiring software company in Milwaukee and getting a dog!

Any advice for incoming students?
Enjoy every part of the experience as much as possible and talk to as many people as you can.

Materials Science, Engineering (Majors) and German (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
My favorite GNS+ class was all about Austria with Monika!

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
AFROAMER 156 – all about black music, including the history, stereotypes and culture.

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I need more sleep than I think! 🙂

What is your favorite memory from UW?
My favorite memory is the sound of everyone singing together in Camp Randall on game days.

What are your future plans and dreams?
I am moving to Texas to start working for Tesla. I hope to adopt a puppy very very soon!

Any advice for incoming students?
Participate in class! I know it can be intimidating, but it’s so much more fun if you’re involved. I promise nobody is paying attention to your grammar.

Communications Sciences & Disorders (Major) and German (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
German 352 – Topics in German Linguistics with Mark Louden.

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Sign Language 1.

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I have always been someone with a plan. But in college I learned that it is okay to not always have all the answers.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Going to badger games!

What are your future plans and dreams?
I will be attending Marquette University in the fall for a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology working as a graduate assistant in the Neurodevelopmental Feeding and Swallowing Lab.

Any advice for incoming students?
Don’t stress about the small things! You only have 4 years here, so make it count.

Biochemistry (Major) and German, Environmental Studies (Certificates)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 411 – Literature in the 20th Century

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
ZOOLOGY 425 – Behavioral Ecology

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
There is no limit to my procrastination.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
5th Quarter.

What are your future plans and dreams?
Great question…

Any advice for incoming students?
Don’t limit yourself to a major right away, keep your options open for as long as you can.

Economics (Major) and German (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 337 – Advanced Composition and Conversation

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
ECON 464 – International Trade

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
How to be happier with myself.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Spending summer nights on the terrace!

What are your future plans and dreams?
Move to another part of the globe.

Any advice for incoming students?
Don’t be shy; reach out to people!

German, Communication Sciences & Disorders (Major)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 411 – Lit des 20. & 21. Jahrhunderts

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
RP & SE 310 – Positive Psych and Well Being

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I love cheese curds.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Spending happy sunny days at the terrace with my roommates.

What are your future plans and dreams?
Become an SLP, adopt a puppy, and own a business.

Any advice for incoming students?
Everyone’s as new to this as you so have fun and try new things!

Biochemistry (Major) and German (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 411 – Culture of the 20th and 21st Centuries

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
MMI 554 – Emerging Infectious Diseases

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I’m a lot more adventurous than I thought I was.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Going to my first conference championship with the UW Fencing Club.

What are your future plans and dreams?
I’ll be attending the UW School of Education and hope to teach high school science.

Any advice for incoming students?
Don’t go overboard on classes too early, but don’t save too many hard classes for your senior year. It’s all about balance.

English; Polish (Majors) and European Studies; Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies (Certificates)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
A special topics course about censorship in Eastern Europe.

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
ENGL 345 – 19th Century English Novels

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
The wide breadth of classes I have taken made me re-analyze my interests and passions, and allowed me to figure out what I really want to do in life.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
Participating and making friends in my student organization are my favorite memories. Not only did I find a group of people with the same interests and similar backgrounds, I was able to work on my leadership skills by being on the executive board.

What are your future plans and dreams?
After graduation, I want to move to Europe and take a gap year to focus on perfecting my language skills. Afterwards, I plan to get my master’s degree, and hope to have a profession in international relations/diplomacy.

Any advice for incoming students?
Don’t be afraid to major in a language! Picking up a new language is intimidating. Also, many are adamant that they believe majoring in a language is useless. It’s not! It is much more than just learning a language. You are able to explore all of your interests while opening your mind to the world outside of where you live. It is deeply satisfying, despite the difficulties.

Environmental Science; German (Majors) and Sustainability (Certificate)

Favorite GNS+ Course?
GERMAN 676 – Asyl, Exil, Migration: Texte und Kontexte

Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
C&ESOC 405 – Education for Sustainable Communities

What is something you learned about yourself in college?
My passion for helping to address the environmental and equity challenges facing our world today.

What is your favorite memory from UW?
An event held by the Freiburg-Madison Gesellschaft in Freiburg, Germany during my year studying abroad. It was held at a restaurant on a hill overlooking the city, and I had a wonderful time talking with the other attendees, many of whom were AYF alumni, while enjoying a stunning sunset over the city.

What are your future plans and dreams?
I am currently searching for work in the environmental policy field. I then hope to move to Germany once the vaccination roll out is mostly completed there (I am aiming for the beginning of 2022). I then plan to work for a year or two before either pursuing my masters in Environmental Policy in Germany, or returning to the US to attend Law school for environmental law.

Any advice for incoming students?
Begin networking your first day of college. Establish relationships with your professors, attend career fairs and research symposiums, and then don’t be afraid of reaching out to those contacts with questions or ideas. They love to help you and are a fantastic resource for learning about internship, research or other extracurricular opportunities. Also, if you have the opportunity STUDY ABROAD! It was the best decision of my college career and the reason I have decided to move back to Germany after completing my degree. Also, if you are concerned about the finances of studying abroad, apply for scholarship (actually either way apply for scholarships). I received a few, with the result that my year abroad was by far the most inexpensive two semesters of my bachelors degree.

Congratulations to all of our GNS+ graduates!

Student Profiles

Angela Arnholt

Jacob Bartelt

Grace Carlson

Clarice Danen

Taylor Eilers

Maggie Guo

Brighid Hartnett

Laura Kelley

Robijn Kleijwegt

Andreas Kyrvasilis

Nic Lasecki

Steven Martell

Emma McKeel

Marina Minic

David Owen

Molly Rouse

Jackson Smith

Baily Syring

Hannah Taylor

Amelia Viegut

Samuel Wank

Sarah Wilhite

Nick Zeinemann

Aleksandra Grulkowski

Ariel Yang

Alannah Rapp

Charlotte Melcher