Stories

Read more about the people who make up our extended Saint Martin's family: our abbey members, faculty, staff, students and alumni. Embracing our Catholic Benedictine values, we think, play, serve, and live with heart.

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Saints stories

Advocating for diversity and equity in the public school system
"We all talked about the need for more teachers of color and what could be done to recruit and retain them."
Terae Harris ’16
Post-graduate School Administrator Certification
Class of 2016
Living Our Benedictine Values
Drawing of two hearts
Respect for Persons
To respect each person regardless of class, background or professional skill. "No one is to pursue what is judged best for oneself, but instead, what is better for someone else." — Rule of Benedict 72
Advocating for diversity and equity in the public school system
Terae Harris ’16
Post-graduate School Administrator Certification
Class of 2016
To travel is to begin to know
"I would like to challenge students to step out of their comfort zones and travel."
Jase Kugiya '18
Social Work
Living Our Benedictine Values
Listening Icon
Listening
To hear keenly and sensitively the voices of persons and all created beings. “Listen...with the ear of your heart.” — Rule of Benedict Prologue
Photo of student studying abroad
Jase Kugiya '18
Social Work
Learning in Public
"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."
Max Turner '22
Political Science and Gender Identity Studies
Class of 2022
Living Our Benedictine Values
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Justice
To hear keenly and sensitively the voices of persons and all created beings. “Listen...with the ear of your heart.” — Rule of Benedict Prologue
Learning in Public
Max Turner '22
Political Science and Gender Identity Studies
Class of 2022
Exploring our galaxy
"For the final project in the astrophysics class, the students calculated the motions of pulsating stars as they travel through space."
Andrea Kunder, Ph.D.
Physics
Faculty
Living Our Benedictine Values
Listening Icon
Listening
To hear keenly and sensitively the voices of persons and all created beings. “Listen...with the ear of your heart.” — Rule of Benedict Prologue
Exploring our galaxy
Andrea Kunder, Ph.D.
Physics
Faculty
Engineered for Success: Grad Program prepares for career at NASA
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!
Kelsey Buckles MSME '20
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Class of 2020
Living Our Benedictine Values
Hospitality Icon
Hospitality
To offer warmth, acceptance and joy in welcoming others. “Let all...be received as Christ.” — Rule of Benedict 53
Engineered for Success: Grad Program Prepares for Career at NASA
Kelsey Buckles MSME '20
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Class of 2020
Leveling Up
"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."
Gibran Zaman '17
Business Administration
Class of 2017
Living Our Benedictine Values
Dignity of Work Icon
Dignity of Work
To appreciate the dignity of work in God’s creation. "They live by the labor of their hands.” — Rule of Benedict 48
Leveling Up
Gibran Zaman '17
Business Administration
Class of 2017
Mastering Business, Developing People
“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.”
John Iglesias MBA '01, Ph.D. Candidate
Master of Business Administration
Class of 2001
Living Our Benedictine Values
Listening Icon
Listening
To hear keenly and sensitively the voices of persons and all created beings. “Listen...with the ear of your heart.” — Rule of Benedict Prologue
Mastering Business, Developing People
John Iglesias MBA '01, Ph.D. Candidate
Master of Business Administration
Class of 2001
A More Sustainable Medicine
"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."
Angela Hoffman ‘72
Secondary education
Class of 1972
Living Our Benedictine Values
Drawing of a goblet
Stewardship
To appreciate and to care lovingly for all the goods of this place. "Regard all utensils as if they were the sacred vessels of the altar." — Rule of Benedict 31
Se. Angela Hoffman '72
Angela Hoffman ‘72
Secondary education
Class of 1972
Ora et labora in Hollywood
"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."
Ahmadou Seck '11
Business Administration
Class of 2011
Living Our Benedictine Values
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Community Living
To become who we are by our relationships with others. “Let all things be common to all.” — Rule of Benedict 33
Ora et labora in Hollywood
Ahmadou Seck '11
Business Administration
Class of 2011
Saints Spotlight: Velma Ragsdale '06
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.
Velma Ragsdale '06
Class of 2022
Living Our Benedictine Values
Justice Icon
Justice
To hear keenly and sensitively the voices of persons and all created beings. “Listen...with the ear of your heart.” — Rule of Benedict Prologue
Cherry blossoms on campus
Velma Ragsdale '06
Class of 2022
Teaching with Heart
"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."
Bethany Partin '03 and Mariah Partin '18
Elementary Education and English Studies
Class of 2003 and 2018
Living Our Benedictine Values
Community Living Icon
Community Living
To become who we are by our relationships with others. “Let all things be common to all.” — Rule of Benedict 33
Teaching with heart
Bethany Partin '03 and Mariah Partin '18
Elementary Education and English Studies
Class of 2003 and 2018
A Passion to Improve
"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."
Ponce Durr ‘09
Sociology and Cultural Anthropology
Class of 2009
Living Our Benedictine Values
Dignity of Work Icon
Dignity of Work
To appreciate the dignity of work in God’s creation. "They live by the labor of their hands.” — Rule of Benedict 48
A Passion to Improve
Ponce Durr ‘09
Sociology and Cultural Anthropology
Class of 2009