Ainsley Francis is a senior English major from Charlotte, NC. When she’s not working on the Mess, you can find her playing intramural broomball, venturing to Target, or spending time with friends. She dreams of publishing her own book one day and living in the countryside. In the meantime, Ainsley wants to pursue a career in communications after she graduates.
Caroline Geer is a senior sociology/anthropology and race and ethnic studies major. She is from Northville, Michigan, not to be confused with Northfield, Minnesota. Caroline’s favorite things include sighing before answering questions about St. Olaf, reading books in one sitting, and telling people she used to be a music major. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school so she can continue her social science research on the distribution of knowledge within organizations.
Alli Hering is a junior social studies education and political science major from Apple Valley, MN. It is common to run into Alli in Holland Hall reading books instead of doing classwork. She also is a avid sports fan and would always be down to join a fantasy sports team! In the future, Alli wants to be a history teacher and hopes to continue to pursue her passion for writing.
Nolan is a senior from Riverside, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He is studying computer science and math. While not working as the President of the Game Design and Animation Club, he is either playing video games, drawing, playing bass guitar, listening to music, or playing more video games. After graduation, he hopes to find a programming job, and play even more video games.
Ben Cermak is a senior majoring in economics with a finance emphasis. He is from Galesburg, Illinois, a farming town in central Illinois. After college, he plans to go into the workforce for a couple of years and pursue an MBA. His interests include intramural sports, working out, and jamming out to some tunes.
Phoebe is a senior English, gender and sexuality studies, and music (B.A.) major from Illinois City, Illinois (a city in Illinois). Apart from making silly posters for the Mess, Phoebe is the Executive Editor of the Quarry Literary and Fine Arts Magazine and manages the Collegium Musicum Recorder Consort. In her free time, Phoebe can be found reading, playing with her ESA cat Hashbrown, or making really elaborate bits and jokes. After graduation, Phoebe plans to continue her education in a graduate program focusing on English and gender studies.
Lucy is from Rapid City, South Dakota, majoring in So/An with concentrations in public health and education. In her free time, you’ll probably catch her drinking a London Fog, going for a walk in the Natty Lands, or taking naps under any condition. After college, Lucy hopes to teach English abroad and go to graduate school to pursue a career in public health.
Megan is a senior mathematics and Chinese 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. After graduation, she hopes to find a job, any job really. You can find her taking public naps across campus or sneaking a book into Stav.
Hi! I’m Kenzie Nguyen, and I’m a sophomore. Currently, I’m thinking about being an English major, but who knows it might change (again). My current favorites are chai lattes and Normal People by Sally Rooney.
Jack is a senior from Duluth, MN. He is majoring in sociology and anthropology and also has a concentration in statistics and data science. He enjoys creative writing, hiking through the Natural Lands, and listening to jams on Spotify. He hopes to someday get his own apartment and live in a big city!
Eliza is a senior from Fairway, Kansas and is majoring in psychology and philosophy with a concentration in gender and sexuality studies. In her free time, Eliza enjoys listening to music, making fun little drinks, hanging out with friends, and rotting in bed. After St. Olaf, she plans on getting a PhD in clinical psychology and trying to figure out why she got a philosophy degree.
Kate Linggi is a junior from San Diego, California. She is majoring in English. Her likes include dancing, bagels and iced coffee, unique thrift finds, and funky bass lines. Her dislikes include black licorice, raccoons, and uneven eyeliner. When she isn’t writing, you can find her auditioning for a play or gushing about music with the Concert Board.
Hello fish friends! My name is Brooke Ellis ’26, and I am the Olaf Messengers Opinions Section Editor for fall 2023. I am pursuing a double major in biology and environmental science to obtain my Ph.D. in marine biology. I am also known as Wendell’s Mother and caretaker, or the crazy fish lady of Regents Hall. Outside of the Mess, I can usually be found doing something spontaneous and fun, like swimming with sharks, creating chaos in the Mess office, or rambling on about fish. What did the shark say when he ate a clownfish? This tastes a little funny…
Madeline is a junior English and political science major from Portland, Oregon. When she’s not busy editing, Madeline can be found playing her cello, tutoring at the Writing Desk, or reading in her hammock! She also loves to travel and will be spending spring semester studying abroad in Northern Ireland.
I am a senior biology and art history major. At St. Olaf I play soccer on the women’s soccer team and dance with the ole tap collective! After graduation, I hope to go to medical school! In my free time, I love hanging out with my friends and family, especially my two dogs Quinn and Kenai.
My name is Katie Carrera, and I’m from Faribault, Minnesota. I am a sophomore double majoring in political science and creative writing with concentrations in Latin American studies and international relations. In my free time, I enjoy playing my cello, painting, drawing, baking, or drinking coffee while reading a good book. After graduation, I intend to take a year off to volunteer abroad before heading to law school.
My name is Annie Stefanko and I am from Rosemount, Minnesota. I plan to major in English with a concentration in race and ethnic studies. In my free time, I enjoy writing scary stories, reading a good Stephen king novel, and watching Netflix. After college, I hope to become a journalist or work in publishing and travel as much as possible!
Maya Betti is a first-year from Shoreview, Minnesota, double majoring in Political Science and English. Her interests include hating on Booktok, spreading anti-Oxford comma propaganda and matcha lattes. After graduating, she hopes to pursue law school or continue her education at graduate school. Until then, she’s pretty content browsing the different study abroad programs.
I am a junior, and I am studying English and psychology with a concentration in applied linguistics. In my free time, I like to spend as much time outside as possible and spend time with my friends. I also love to read and have an ever-growing collection of books from all over the world.
Malikiah is a sophomore political science major from Phoenix, Arizona. They tend to be found listening to Phoebe Bridgers with a smile on their face, writing poetry about anything and everything, or posting too much on their close friends story. If not found doing these activities, Malikiah may be found in more productive environments working in ResLife, on a KSTO radio show, or in the Boone House on campus.
Elias Hanson ’26 is an environmental studies major from Chaska, Minnesota, with concentrations in linguistics and gender/sexuality studies. When not busy with an unreasonable amount of extracurriculars, he can typically be found reading about corporate wrongdoings in a library beanbag, or climbing a tree at unholy hours. After St. Olaf, they plan to continue studying environmental science at grad school abroad.
Callista is a sophomore from Iowa City, Iowa. She is currently studying sociology/anthropology. Most of her idle time is likely spent going outdoors, journaling, writing songs on guitar, taking candid photos of friends, climbing rocks, discovering new music, or napping on the floor.
Riley is a sophomore from Minneapolis. She is majoring in environmental studies and creative writing. Some of her interests include thrifting, writing poetry, and going on long walks. She is also an Organizer of Environmental Coalition. In the future, hopes to work with nonprofits and publish her own poetry collection.
Ashlyn Wuench ’26 is an environmental studies major from Springfield, Missouri. She can typically be found not on campus during weekends exploring some wooded area several hours away. However, when on campus, she’s probably trying a different Cage drink, drawing cartoon hippos on any flat surface, or falling asleep the moment she thinks about doing homework. You can find her five minutes late to wherever she’s planning to be.
Auguste Bernick is a senior film and media studies major, with a concentration in environmental studies. He has been taking photos professionally for six years, with work featured in publications ranging from the Duluth Tribune to the Washington Post. Auguste enjoys all types of photography, however he specializes in portraiture. On any given day, he can be found in the darkroom developing photos and spending the entirety of his income on expired film.
My name is Andrew Mazariegos-Ovalle and I am from the Southwest side of Chicago! I am a studio art and environmental studies double major. I love taking film pictures, watching movies and admiring Pikmin. My future plan is to rest for a bit but continue making art in the meanwhile.
Sean is a senior biology major from Osceola, Wisconsin. He specializes in throwing and catching plastic discs, listening to (and sometimes identifying) birdcalls, 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.
Finley is a sophomore studio art major with a concentration in education from Eagan, Minnesota. In her free time you can find her reading a good book, talking with friends, and eating at the cage to escape the caf. After graduating, Finley hopes to teach art to elementary kids.
Hannah is a junior Chinese and political science major from Lino Lakes, Minnesota. Besides doodling for the Mess, they spend their Olaf days ringing with Ole Bells, raiding the free book tables around campus, and enjoying the wonders of the outdoors with a kalimba or sketchbook in hand.
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.
Vera Sablak is a junior biology and art history major from Concord, Massachusetts. She loves coffee, chatting, and chilly weather. After college, Vera hopes to be a science teacher and the owner of a combined coffee-and-flower shop.
Jacob Rozell is a first year Creative Writing Major from Fairbanks, Alaska. When he’s not writing, he’s practicing with the Nordic ski team, or distracting his artist friends in CAD. His favorite writers are Wes Anderson, Roald Dahl, and Joan Naviyuk Kane, and his favorite place to be is north of the Arctic Circle.
Kaya Stark is a sophomore double majoring in English and Philosophy. She is from Wrenshall, Minn. When not pondering existentialism or reading classic fiction, you can find Kaya buying an Ole Palmer from the cage, reading her favorite book for the thousandth time, or scrubbing ink stains off her hands. After college, she hopes to get a PhD and find a job that pays her to read books for a living somewhere in a big city.