Stories

Saint Martin’s did so much for us; we are happy to give what we can.

Alumnus turned hospital president shares insights on leading transformation.

“The MBA program and the content helped me understand that there is so much more in the leadership of organizations than managers and employees. My program of study helped me clarify that I wanted to be in a leadership role where I could be helping people, developing others, and learning from other people as well.”

All of my professors were invested in me and I built great relationships with them. Honestly, because of the size and culture of Saint Martin’s I loved that learning, growth, and even career advice takes place everywhere, even in the hallways!

“I am Martin Luther King’s dream, Harriet Tubman’s walk, Wilma Rudolph’s run and Malcolm X’s fight — I am their story.”

"Saint Martin’s University prepared me for my internship by teaching me to provoke thoughtful and meaningful discussion."

"It was a great experience. I ended up thriving at Saint Martin’s. It was due to the environment, and there was a lot of opportunity for leadership."

"Saint Martin’s has helped me get out of my comfort zone and try things that I never would’ve tried before."

"I think Saint Martin’s helps you grow into the person you thought it wasn’t quite possible to be. When you look back, you think, wow, they helped me discover myself."

"Saint Martin’s was extremely influential in my career. I can’t imagine where I’d be if Darrell hadn’t convinced me to start singing."

"Think about the industry you want to be in, care about it, research it, understand it. Be passionate about what you want to do. Don’t be afraid."

"If all you do is teach what’s in the textbook, that is information gathered by someone else. Let’s just do the new stuff. It’s a lot more fun to make it than talk about it."

"We all talked about the need for more teachers of color and what could be done to recruit and retain them."

"Think about how your choices will help you grow as a person...think about how you can affect not just one life, but many lives."

From negotiation tables to press interviews, our students tackled real-world challenges and worked together to keep global warming below 2°C.

SMU student Alex Greene stars as Amelia Sinclair in ‘The Phantom Regret’ | Photo Courtesy of Cassandra England.

"It was a wonderful experience for our students to see the research of undergraduate students at peer institutions."

Ten incoming first-year students have been selected to serve as the 13th cohort of Benedictine Scholars.

"Grace, Isabelle and Stephanie are passionate and motivated to improve their lives and the lives of those around them, and we look forward to hearing about the continued good they will do in the world."

"This hands-on training provided valuable experience and practical lessons that are difficult to teach by other means."

"Students said the visit to Microsoft was an invaluable learning experience, and our hosts were so gracious and informative!"

The Saint Martin’s community celebrates St. Benedict's Day on March 21. As a Benedictine institution, we honor this day to commemorate the values of hospitality, community and lifelong learning that St. Benedict instilled. His teachings inspire us to foster a welcoming environment where all can thrive.

I gained a lot of knowledge through the certification provided by CRLA and the tutoring center. I highly recommend taking the time to complete the training as a tutor and knowledge to take with you after graduation.

Pre-Law Diversity Fellowship

I want our tutors to take away that they are making a difference, and it shows every day on our campus and in our community.

"For the final project in the astrophysics class, the students calculated the motions of pulsating stars as they travel through space."

"The goal of communication studies at Saint Martin’s is to encourage students to become responsible leaders, engaged citizens [who seek] ... social justice on a scale beyond themselves."

"Lord, if your people still have need of my services, I will not avoid the toil. Your will be done."

People often talk about "finding themselves," and I never truly understood that until I experienced this incredible year. Living in a new country, surrounded by fresh perspectives and endless opportunities for adventure, breathed new life into me.

“To excel in the business world, I must broaden my perspective and experience as the business world is getting even more globalized.”

“Don’t psych yourself out, you can do it. There is a learning curve but nothing you can’t handle. If you want the experience, take the leap.”

"I took advantage of the independence and self-growth from being in a whole new country."

"I would like to challenge students to step out of their comfort zones and travel."

“Although studying abroad can be a little scary at first, it is so worth it. Without this opportunity, I wouldn’t know what Australia was like, let alone what it would be like to swim with some of the most fascinating animals in the ocean.”

"I had no idea I broke the school record until after the race when my coach told me. Achieving another school record never crossed my mind, but it made the race all that more special."

"The latest rankings and any success we're having is simply a result of having such a special group of players. They're focused on the right things, they work incredibly hard and they're unselfish people who care about each other."

Students engaged in a transformative experience that not only allowed them to explore the wider world but also integrated classroom knowledge into real-life scenarios.

This internship confirmed that my true passion in life is working in government.

It gives the whole region which is comprised of 30+ institutions an opportunity to learn about the Saint Martin's community and also learn about our small but mighty chapter.

Now that I'm older, I can see the significance of my culture and how important it is for my past relatives and myself to continue to share and capture every moment of my life when I am able to show and represent my culture.

“They may not remember a lot of the assignments they did in class, but 20 years from now, they’ll remember the concrete canoe competition and the other students they worked with.”

"I would recommend the [Washington State Legislative] internship program ... In my time I got to sit firsthand and watch as our reps balanced diverse constituent interests, worked tirelessly to understand complex political issues, and engaged in bipartisanship on a regular basis."

I would love to have all students know they have a safe place here within the BSU. I want it to be more like a family.

I am so grateful to the faculty here at Saint Martin’s who have prepared me for this career-building opportunity, and I am deeply appreciative of the SOPREMA Scholarship program for their continued support in my academic and professional pursuits.

I loved Irina and Jeff's classes ... I felt like an adult did more than just hear what I had to say, but actively listen and engage with it. It made me more invested in my education.

The women in this story continue to elevate the representation of women in STEM. Representation is important not only for those being represented but for members of systems that are becoming more inclusive. Saint Martin’s is so proud to have played even a small role in the lives of these incredible ladies.

I knew that if I wanted to be successful in that environment then I was going to have to grow in certain areas of my life. It was a struggle and it took time. However, I got there.

I incorporate the responsibilities and values I hold as a mother into the way I work with students because I want them to feel empowered and confident enough to take control of some of the more complicated things in life, like finances, that may seem out of their control.  

As a first-generation college student, I’m able to help pave the way for my family.

Social workers are, in a way, mentors for other people and that’s what I’m all about – being a mentor to my community, because I’ve always had a mentor to fall back on myself.

I want to be an inspiration for other nonbinary or gender non-conforming people on campus. We may be a small community at Saint Martin’s, but we are here.

It is important to realize that, as you are trying to teach your younger siblings and cousins, you are in the process of learning too, and that is something to be proud of.  

You may think you are going to do one thing, but you wind up doing something else that you are more suited for, so be open to the possibilities.

Through this experience, I learned that sometimes you end up going in a direction that’s not the one you want. It may seem like a complete setback, but sometimes it leads you down a path that’s better than the one you originally had in mind.

If the question is what defines me, well, the answer is all the challenges that I’ve gone through since I was 12.

I am the first of my family to go to college, which means that I get the honor of blazing a trail for my younger siblings and cousins.

When you’re a first-generation college student, it feels like your whole family is going to college with you because it is such a new and unique experience for everyone.

Being a first-generation student means breaking the intergenerational cycle of education level.

I was unfamiliar with the education system in the United States, but I was determined and persisted through the invisible barriers.

I went to college to obtain the dream that neither of my parents could.

"For the final project in the astrophysics class, the students calculated the motions of pulsating stars as they travel through space."

“I had great mentors at Saint Martin’s who challenged, pushed and encouraged me, like Fr. Bede, who was the reason for my success as a chemist,” George A. Parker ’71, Ph.D.