Members of the Class of 2028 took their first walk up the hill as ߲ݴý students yesterday. Among the countless leaders, volunteers, innovators, and scholars are a Minnesotian with a passion for the outdoors, an avid tennis player from the U.K., an OUS scholar looking forward to the camaraderie of her peers.
Miriam Garnaas ’28, of Saint Paul, Minn., feels most balanced when she’s out in nature. The budding environmentalist loves hiking and doesn’t let the cold Minnesota winters stop her from enjoying the outside — think cold plunging. While in high school, Garnaas volunteered her time to mentor her peers and advocated in front of state representatives on issues of concern.
I’m excited to be immersed in a group of peers that come from all different walks of life.
Miriam Garnaas ’28 Saint Paul, Minn.
She applied Early Decision I after her visit to campus made her “more excited about college than I have ever been.”
Garnaas plans to major in biology and aspires to one day work for the Department of Natural Resources or the National Park Service.
Tim Viding ’28, of Rochester, England, was only 12 when he first set his sights on attending a U.S. college. As an accomplished tennis player, he was interested in opportunities that gave student-athletes the chance to continue their sport.
I found that ߲ݴý seemed to be the best fit for my tennis and academic interests.
Tim Viding ’28 Rochester, England
Viding was one of 150 selected in Cohort 12 of the U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Sutton Trust Program. The competitive program works with accomplished first-generation students from across the U.K. who are interested in studying in the U.S. by providing resources, support, and guidance through the application process.
This fall, Viding looks forward to competing on ߲ݴý men’s tennis team and exploring a wide variety of academic subjects as a student, one of the reasons he felt ߲ݴý’s liberal arts curriculum was the best for him.
“I’m not entirely sure what I want to study, which is why I’m looking forward to pushing myself out of my comfort zone to see what I might excel at alongside what I know are my strengths already,” said Viding.
For Karina Gomez ’28, of Round Lake Park, Ill., the journey to ߲ݴý was not without its challenges. As a first-generation student, she learned the importance of asking for help and utilizing available resources.
“My college search process was somewhat rocky,” she admitted. “I had to take on a lot of responsibility in the application process, and this process taught me the importance of asking for help and using the resources that are being offered.”
Gomez was selected as an Office of Undergraduate Studies scholar at ߲ݴý and attended the program’s Summer Institute, held over five weeks in July and August.
The OUS program was a big influence in my choice to go to ߲ݴý.
Karina Gomez ’28 Round Lake Park, Ill.
“I was part of a similar program in high school, so the fact that I get to have a similar support system and camaraderie makes me feel like I’m never going to be alone throughout my years at ߲ݴý,” said Gomez.
Meet Other Students in the Class of 2028
