Graduates Spread Their Wings
By Clare Horst (’11)

Loras College held its 171st commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 22, 2010, bestowing 252 students with degrees. Following are profiles of two of the newest additions to the Loras alumni family. Click here to see a highlight video from graduation and to watch the commencement address by Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.

Michele Gelaude (’10) (Delmar, Iowa) recently graduated from Loras with a double major in integrated visual arts and public relations. Gelaude was involved in the music ensembles and writing for the Lorian student newspaper. She was also consistently involved in campus ministry affiliated programs and led the production of the Purgold yearbook. She also had various experiential learning opportunities at Loras, including studying abroad and internships. “Being involved at Loras has shown me the importance of integrating oneself into a community in a giving way—a lesson I can carry with me wherever I go,” said Gelaude.

In the next year, Gelaude will partake in a yearlong volunteer program called St. Joseph the Worker in the Twin Cities. Her major placement will be Cretin-Derham Hall, a large Catholic High School in St. Paul, Minn. She will be primarily helping in the ministry and social justice department during their academic year, as well as doing classroom assistance to get to know the students. “My involvement in campus ministry the past four years has helped to shape me into a confident, mature and spiritual woman,” said Gelaude. “Along with studying abroad and internships, my time working with ministry experiences has helped me to choose a path of faith-based volunteering next year. I look forward to helping make a difference in the lives of others, while constantly being challenged to grow and develop as a person.”

Gelaude explained how she has changed throughout her time at Loras. “I do not think I realized my potential before I came to Loras. My original dream for college was to find a husband and a good job, but it makes me smile to look back and see the surprises of life that happened along the way. While I have immediate plans, the long-term future has plenty of opportunity, and I walk in good faith knowing that I am prepared for what is to come.”

Mollie Martin (’10) (Ladd, Ill.) graduated with majors in early childhood special education and elementary education. Martin spent her time at Loras involved in the executive board for Dance Marathon, intramurals, Lead 4 Loras and as a Peer Assistant. She also studied in Costa Rica for a January term class. “My involvements in those activities helped me to seize every opportunity,” said Martin. “While taking leadership roles at Loras I was taught to challenge myself. The opportunities I had at Loras helped me realize there is so much more to do, people to help and things to see.”

Martin will spend next year teaching Kindergarten at an English immersion school in Torreon, Mexico. “Although it is hard leaving Loras, my home for the past four years, I am very excited to start the next chapter of my life,” she said.

Martin feels she has grown more independent and become more outgoing as a result of her four years at Loras. Like most recent graduates, Martin does not know what to expect in her future, but she said she feels prepared for the unexpected. “As a first year student, I thought after four years of college I would move back to my hometown to teach,” explained Martin. “Then, as I fell in love with Loras, Dubuque and my friends, I never thought I would want to leave this place. However, through the things I have done at Loras and the motivating people I have met I am very excited to start the next chapter of my life.”
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