WCC Class of: 2021

Hometown: Las Cruces, NM

Biggest highlight at WCC: Having just graduated, above all I value the friendships that I have formed. They have taught me what authentic Christian love looks like, and what it means to be a gift to another person. But they have also taught me how to laugh in the midst of this crazy, difficult life–and that communal joy has been irreplaceable these four years.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: I have too many to pick a favorite, so I will write the first thing that comes to mind. Last fall, I went on a personal climbing trip to Maple Canyon, UT with two friends from the college. The night we got into camp, we were deliriously tired—to the point where anything and everything was funny. In that state, we couldn’t help but laugh when one of us dumped our Ramen-noodle-dinner all over the sand. That kind of contagious laughter and the memory of that moment still make me smile and remember the trip fondly.

You would never guess that my middle name is Blessing and my parents aren’t hippies.

WCC Class of: 2022

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

Biggest highlight at WCC: The highlight of my time at WCC was my freshman year Easter dance. After attending the Easter Vigil Mass at Holy Rosary, the student body walks down Main Street to the downtown buildings in a torchlit procession for a student-led Easter dance. All of the food and decorations are prepared by volunteer students who want to share their family’s traditions with the larger community. We party until the morning, then go up a hill to the graveyard to watch the sunrise. It was an incredible experience; I got super tired, loosened up, and learned how to dance for the first time.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: My favorite outdoor trip memory was on my 14ers peak ascent trip my junior year. We got up at 3 AM, hiked for a few miles just to get to the base of the mountain, and it turned out to be the most difficult peak any of us had successfully climbed. We hiked on the windy, dark west side of the mountain until 6 or so, then came over a saddle onto the east side, where it was completely calm and sunny. The last leg of the route was the toughest–almost all scree, with a lot of scouting. 100 feet from the summit, there was a very exposed section of the route which was covered in ice and snow, and if we fell, we would fall at least 50 feet. At first glance, it looked like nobody could even attempt it, but Dr. Dziad went down and found it wasn’t quite as bad as it looked. A few people stayed back, but everyone else safely made it to the summit. The combination of beautiful weather and incredible view was almost as good as the feeling of relief and accomplishment!

You’d never guess that I almost went to Purdue instead of WCC to play D1 ultimate frisbee!

WCC Class of: 2023

Hometown: Mokena, IL

Highlight at WCC: One of my highlights as a student was going with Cowboys for Life to the University of Wyoming for a tabling event, asking the students there when they believed human rights began. We got to apply the logic and conversational skills learned in class to the outside world and spread the culture of life beyond our community.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: catching trout in the Wind River Mountains and eating fresh fish for dinner, seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper! We ate one of the trout just 10 minutes after it was caught!

You would never guess that I have attended Mass in a bar.

Favorite Class at WCC: Philosophy (specifically philosophy 201). Faith takes over where reason fails, but reason can take you pretty far! And our reason is what unites us both with those who lived before Christ and those who lived after Christ but aren’t Christian. Studying philosophy strengthens your mind with a good foundation and common ground that all people can share, and from there we can evangelize truths about the faith. Some of the greatest minds have come to belief in God through philosophy; and through philosophy, we, too can bring souls closer to the truth and be strengthened in the truth ourselves.

WCC Class of: 2021

Hometown: Hayden, ID

All-time highlight so far: There are so many to choose from! One major highlight has been the community. The opportunity to be surrounded with like-minded students who are pursuing a life of virtue is uplifting and rare to find.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: It sounds miserable, but it has always stuck with me. During the Gates of Lodore trip, it started to rain/snow while we were rafting. Amidst the cold, the people in my raft started singing. After a while, we were no longer cold, but warm and happy, singing at the top of our lungs. It was one of the best days.

You would never guess that I enjoy doing Filipino Martial Arts.

WCC Class of: 2022

Hometown: Lakewood, CO

All-time highlight so far: The highlight of my time here as a student has to be my second outdoor trip as a freshman. I had a moment where we arrived at Indian Creek (a world famous crack climbing crag) and was just blown away by how beautiful this little canyon was and the fact that we were surrounded by climbers who had flown across the world to climb here. It made me feel really lucky to be there. Also, having a bunch of juniors and seniors around reinforced the feeling of community.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: My favorite outdoor trip moment has to be climbing in St. George, UT. We were at Black Rocks, the sun had just gone down, and I led a hard climb that I was really proud of completing. It was only the second day of the trip, and it had been my goal for the week to climb it. It felt good to succeed and have a whole week to surpass my expectations.

Favorite WCC class: Favorite WCC class has to be first semester Junior year Theology. I loved it because it helped me see things that I had never given thought to, and helped me realize how comprehensive our Faith really is.

You would never guess that I have swum across states!

WCC Class of: 2023

Hometown: Schertz, TX

All-time highlight so far: One of the highlights of my time at Wyoming Catholic College has been getting out of the rigor of the classroom and just being out in nature with what we’ve read, letting it all soak in.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: My favorite outdoor memory was when I was out rock climbing for the week, and we stored food on a rock wall, away from where bears could reach it. We were camped next to a lake, and when we went to get the food in the morning, we watched the sun creep up and shine across the shimmering lake. It was a memory I won’t forget.

You would never guess that I love surfing/sailing and I’m a bit addicted to watching sunsets. . .

WCC Class of: 2022

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

All-time highlight so far: It is extremely difficult to pick a highlight from an education that has helped teach me to appreciate all the little things, and yet which is also so rich with so many wonderful things—the intellectual tradition that stems from the great books, the fruits of this tradition, the classmates around you who present their thoughts and projects, the beauty of the wilderness, good dancing and music, the random adventures to be had with classmates, and the classmates themselves. But I would have to say that the biggest aspect of WCC that stands out to me is its community. I don’t like how cliche this sounds, but I do think that the way the school is set up allows for a really good community. At what other school do you actually feel comfortable sitting down at any spot in the cafeteria? Its smaller size, its mission to ground itself in the great books that we all read and discuss, and the need to survive and thrive together in the raw beauty of the wilderness, all helps to produce a tight-knit community that is able to embrace itself. The activities that are the best for friendships to revolve around are more readily available here. I know for a fact that I would not have developed friendships as close at any other college.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: On this past fall mountaineering trip we ascended the peak of a 14er in Colorado called Mt. Wilson. You could see miles and miles on all sides of you, and they were astonishingly beautiful and inexhaustible. As I was climbing that mountain, I knew it would become the most epic (and in the actual sense of the word…think Homer…) thing that I had ever done. Gazing from the top of that mountain felt as if I was looking over the world…and I wasn’t entirely wrong. After a long while of silence, our group prayed the divine mercy chaplet on top of this peak, and because of the difficult previous summer, which had been the beginning of COVID and the riots, I was blown away with tearful gratitude. Amidst the messiness of the world, God had still granted me this opportunity to marvel over the same world’s beauty, as we prayed, “Have mercy on us, and on the whole world.” I was inspired to always see, and if not see, remember beauty, even if it is not always apparent.

Favorite WCC class: My favorite classes have been in the Humanities and Theology tracks. I really enjoyed HMN 101, because I loved being able to experience the ancient epic, which is what the following philosophies of Plato and Aristotle looked up to. The epics are really inspiring for times that are so devoid of heart. More recently I really enjoyed THL 302, which was all about what the Incarnation of Christ is, which intrigued me, frustrated me, and helped me to better understand our need for Christ and what He is actually like.

You would never guess that I grew up playing drums. I played drum-set and was on drum-line in high school.

WCC Class of: 2023

Hometown: Independence, MO

All-time highlight so far: Hiking up into the winds for coffee during sunrise at the watchtower.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: During my 21-Day trip we ascended Smokehouse Mountain. I remember cresting the hill during sunrise and it may have been the most transcendent experience of my life.

Favorite WCC class: Humanities. I find literature and poetry to be a culmination of the philosophical track as well as means by which I am able to look into myself with the book as a lens. There is a unique experience of reading literature as if you live in a mansion but are unaware of the expanse of it and instead habitat a small little room. Each time I encounter humanities that resonate, it’s as if I find an entire new wing of my soul I never consciously acknowledged as existing.

You would never guess that I lived in Austria for five years.

WCC Class of: 2022

Hometown: Hudson, NY

All-time highlight so far: The community is the most beautiful thing about WCC. It is not a family, it is too big to be a family, but it is as close to a family as you will get in any community. My “highlight” at WCC is living with people that know how to love past the surface level of affirmation, down to the honest truth that grows a genuine friendship.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: Last fall I had the opportunity to lead nine students on a weeklong canyoneering trip in Utah. During the backpacking portion of the trip, I made a mistake that left me humbled and corrected, but also with one of my favorite outdoor trip memories. Instead of leaving our heavy packs in a base camp as unbeknown to me was customary, I made everyone carry full packs through the rough terrain and narrow passages of Ding and Dang Canyon. Although we trudged into camp at the end of the day exhausted, and with sore arms from firelining 30lb packs up and down numerous boulders and small cliff drops, there is a sense of accomplishment and pride that now forever lives and is remembered in each person on that trip.

You would never guess that I have never been in a Walmart.

WCC Class of: 2022

Hometown: Ojai, CA

All-time highlight so far: My highlight at this school has been fostering friendships with wonderful people while enjoying the mountains and freedom that Wyoming brings with it.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: My favorite outdoor trip memory is being stuck in Stough Creek Basin for 4 nights in a foot of snow with my best friends, particularly talking about scary stories around a fire one night.

Favorite WCC class: My favorite WCC class was Humanities 201. Discussing the Romans was very invigorating and seeing how I think similarly to them.

You would never guess that I play a trumpet that belonged to my great uncle who was a famous banjo player (who is now in the banjo hall of fame).

WCC Class of: 2022

Hometown: Mukwonago, WI

All-time highlight so far: The highlight of my time at Wyoming Catholic College is the community life. I have loved getting to know other Catholics who believe the same thing as me and push me to become a better person.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: My favorite outdoor memory is from a mountain biking trip on which we did a twenty mile loop called Western Rim where we biked all day with a spectacular view of Colorado.

You would never guess that when I was 5 years old I was pushed into a shark tank by an old lady at the Atlanta Aquarium.

WCC Class of: 2022

Hometown: Batavia, IL

All-time highlight so far: John Malinoski once told me (and I will never forget this) that Oreos taste good with milk.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: In the span of a single day, my group got to have both Olympian experiences of summiting a 14er in Colorado and figuring out Euclid’s Death Star Proposition.

Favorite WCC class: My favorite class at WCC had to be Junior Year when we took Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. Our Professor did a phenomenal job at taking the abstract principles we had been studying for years and applying them to actual life. This class is one of the pinnacles of the curriculum.

You would never guess that my right ear rests slightly higher on my skull than my left ear.

WCC Class of: 2022

Hometown: Austin, TX

All-time highlight so far: My best WCC memories have been at dances, dinners, and other school events. At these, I’ve had a blast getting to know my schoolmates, the staff members, and professors better.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: On my canoeing trip, last semester, I mistook the hot chocolate powder for brownie mix. I cooked it for over an hour, incredibly frustrated that it would not harden or bake. I still have the by-product of that error: once it cooled, it formed into a chocolate-scented rock.

Favorite WCC class: My favorite WCC class has been humanities because there’s so much variety—some days it feels as though it could be a philosophy or theology class.

You would never guess that In high school, I was fourth in the state of Texas for my Mountain Biking division.

WCC Class of: 2022

Hometown: Stanfordville, NY

All-time highlight so far: The highlight of my time as a student has been the kinds of friendships I have been able to make. Being in a community of people who are either doing or have done the same things as you are provides an opportunity to make unique friendships that are hard to find anywhere else.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: I honestly can’t choose a favorite outdoor trip memory. I can’t decide whether my favorite memory is struggling up a rock face while my friends encouraged me from the ground, or listening to one of my classmates play her violin while I fell asleep under the desert stars, or the time no one in my cook group remembered how to light a stove (that was an interesting week.)

Favorite WCC class: My favorite classes at WCC were, hands down, Philosophy of Nature and Philosophy of Man with Dr. Grove. Aristotle’s Physics and De Anima changed the way I thought about the human person and the relationship of the soul to the body.

You would never guess that I’d never even slept outside before the 21 day trip freshman year.

WCC Class of: 2023

Hometown: Aurora, IL

All-time highlight so far: My highlight as a student here was, surprisingly, during finals week. After my 1st semester of Sophomore year, we were all sent home to do finals week online due to Covid-19. I stayed with my friends in Arizona, and we spent our days cooking great food, having beautiful conversations about the semester, and helping each other along in the final push of the semester; I trust that, after this experience, we will all be friends for life. So, while it wasn’t how we had expected to spend our finals, it ended up being a huge blessing in disguise, and one of my favorite memories from my time here so far.

Favorite outdoor trip memory: This past semester I went on the Multi-Adventure week-long trip, which includes canyoneering, rock climbing, and desert backpacking. The first morning, my group realized we’d forgotten some essential gear for our canyoneering day. Instead of despairing over the change of plans, we jumped into salvaging mode and went on a hike at Corona Arch in Moab. It was one of the most joyful, carefree hikes of my life, as there was no pressure at all due to its last-minute nature. We got to sing and talk to locals, and have a birthday celebration for one of the group members. It was a beautiful moment of unexpected bonding, and really set a tone of flexibility and joy for the rest of the trip.

Favorite WCC class: My favorite class so far at WCC was Euclidean geometry. Until I took this class, I believed that I hated math. As I went through the first semester of Euclid and got used to the way it goes, I became more aware of how it affected the way I think. I’m glad to say now that I have fallen in love with Euclid, and it is probably the class I miss the most of all that I have taken.

You would never guess that I have never seen a Tom Cruise movie.