Grace is a senior political science and Spanish major from Omaha, Nebraska. She enjoys tea, reading way too much political news coverage, and taking care of her ever-growing collection of plants. After graduation Grace aspires to work in nonprofits, decide what master’s program to pursue, and finally have her own kitchen.
Ainsley Francis is a junior English major from Charlotte, NC. In her freetime you can find her playing broomball with friends, reading, and reminiscing on her time in Ireland. After graduation, Ainsley hopes to work in communications. She dreams of publishing her own book and living in the countryside.
Grace is a senior from Wichita, KS, and is majoring in English with a concentration in Media Studies. Along with her Mess duties, she works as Social Media Manager for The Quarry, participates both onstage and behind the scenes in theatrical productions around campus, and hosts a KSTO show. When not doing any of these things, she is usually at a concert or getting an iced matcha and breakfast burrito at the Cage.
Teague Lars Peterson-McGuire ’23 is passionate about tropical fish, St. Olaf history, the great state of Wisconsin, and the Mess. He is a senior from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and is majoring in Film & Media Studies and Nordic Studies. When Teague isn’t getting everyone excited to read the Mess he’s usually working on his St. Olaf history podcast, The Bathtub, attempting to speak an odd mixture of Danish and Norwegian, cleaning Wendell’s tank, or relaxing with a tobacco pipe. After graduation Teague hopes to pursue higher education in Nordic Studies or work in marketing in the energy sector.
Hi, I’m Ben Cermak, the business manager for The Messenger. I am from Galesburg, Illinois, a farming town in central Illinois. After college, I plan to go into the workforce for a couple of years and pursue an MBA. My interests include intramural sports, working out, and jamming out to some tunes.
Lucy is from Rapid City, South Dakota. She is a Sociology/Anthropology major with an Education concentration. After graduation, she hopes to teach English abroad.
Kenzie Nguyen ’26 is from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and hopes to major in Sociology and Anthropology with a concentration in Public Health Studies on a Pre-Medical Track. In her free time, Kenzie can be found anywhere on campus but her small Kildahl dorm. She loves not finishing crossword puzzles, and talking to friends about anything and everything. You can easily befriend her by giving her a black coffee with cream, showing her a dog, or mentioning jazz.
Justin is a Senior English major, hailing from Osceola, Wisconsin — but he also probably won’t shut up about also living in Oregon. Outside of editing opinions, Justin enjoys writing egregious amounts of articles for his own section, playing ultimate frisbee, taking photos on old cameras and sketching buildings. After graduating, his full plan entails doing hippie things, somewhere probably outdoors.
Mathilde is a sophomore from the Twin Cities (though really she’s from Edina, Minnesota) hopefully majoring in Spanish and SOAN. When she’s not busy planning out her future travels with the little savings she has, she can be found watching more travel videos, making peanut butter oatmeal in her dorm, or figuring out whether to buy cookie dough or salted caramel oat milk ice cream from the co-op. Though she’s the queen of indecisiveness, she hopes to go to graduate school and maybe someday be on the Great British Baking Show but that’s all subject to change drastically.
Caroline Geer is a junior Sociology/Anthropology and Race and Ethnic Studies major. She hails from the great state of Michigan (a fact she’ll never let you forget), more specifically from Northville, a suburban wasteland between Ann Arbor and Detroit. When not editing, she can be found trying to write essays, laughing with friends, reading sad books, singing, or sleeping on any slightly horizontal surface. She hopes to go to graduate school and do sociological research after college.
I am a junior biology major with a concentration in molecular biology. In the future I hope to go to medical school! I am on the women’s soccer team and ole tap collective at St. Olaf. In my free time I love to hang out with friends and family, especially my two dogs Quinn and Kenai!
Abbey Scott is a junior from Laurel, Montana. She is studying English and plans to possibly work towards a graduate degree after St. Olaf with the aim of working in either publishing or library science. Abbey enjoys reading and spending time with her friends.
Eliza is a junior from Kansas City. She is majoring in psychology and philosophy and has a concentration in gender and sexuality studies. Some of her interests include listening to the KSTO radio, buying all the Pepsi from the vending machines, and forgetting to set her alarm. Eventually, she hopes to attend graduate school and get a degree in clinical psychology.
Sophia is a junior from Cedar Falls, Iowa, majoring in Sociology and Anthropology with concentrations in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Race and Ethnic Studies. Outside of the paper she enjoys running outside, listening to records, dancing, writing poetry, and questioning society. Her future plans are unknown, but she knows she wants to move with her family someday to an off-the-grid intentional community somewhere around the world.
Brooke Ellis ’26 is passionate about the ocean, sailing, and of course marine life. She loves her fish babies: Wendal, Larry, Pepper, Colby, Napoleon, Sunny, Apollo, Bandit, Trigger, Blenny, and the many Diamond Tetras she cares for. Brooke is double majoring in Biology and Environmental Studies in hopes of one day becoming a marine biologist. Outside of running around in search of the next big headline, you can find her by the tanks of Regent’s; Home of the fish she cares for. You can also find her by any body of water. “What do you call a dapper Shark? So-fish-ticated.”
Phoebe is a junior English, gender and sexuality studies, and music (B.A.) major from Illinois City, Illinois. When not corresponding, Phoebe manages the Philharmonia Orchestra and Collegium Musicum Recorder Consort and works as the Interdisciplinary Editor of the Quarry Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. In her freetime, Phoebe can be found hanging out with friends, playing with her ESA cat Hashbrown, or laying on the floor. After college, Phoebe hopes to work in arts management or library studies.
Sean is a junior biology major from Osceola, Wisconsin. He specializes in throwing and catching plastic discs, writing Letterboxd reviews, and hosting a KSTO show that once raked in double digit listeners. His future plans include running a marathon, perfecting the 15 minute nap, and learning how to draw something other than faces.
My name is Andrew Mazariegos-Ovalle and I am from the Southside of Chicago! I am a studio art and environmental studies double major. I love watching tv, taking pictures, and playing Mario Party. After graduation, I will probably rest for a bit, but I will continue making art and apply to graduate school!
Megan is a junior math major from Overland Park, Kansas. When not taking photos for the Mess she enjoys watering her many plants, drawing in class, and watching video essays on YouTube that are longer than feature length films. You can find her taking public naps across campus or sneaking a book into Stav.
Kate Linggi is a sophomore from San Diego, California. She is majoring in English. Her likes include dancing, bagels and iced coffee, and funky bass lines. Her dislikes include black licorice, raccoons, and uneven eyeliner. When she isn’t writing, you can find her joking around with the Red Brick Theater Company or gushing about music with the Concert Board.
Lauren Schilling ’25 is from a small town in Northern Iowa. She is passionate about all things art and poetry related and will share her knowledge when given the chance. When she’s not writing for the Mess, or in class, you can find her over the air on KSTO, reading poetry, or working on a mountain of homework.
John, or Gus, is a senior political science and Chinese major from Seattle, Washington. Outside of the Olaf Messenger, he is the coach of St. Olaf’s boxing club and department assistant for the Chinese language house. He loves boxing, movies, and all things China, whether art, politics, history, or philosophy. In the near future, he hopes to work for a few years, hopefully abroad in Asia, before beginning law school. He hopes to pursue a career in US foreign policy and law.