Robina Cyriac

Major: Pharmacy

Hometown: Morton Grove, IL

Internships/Work Experience:
CVS Pharmacy Internship, Peoria, IL; Dominick's Patient Care Internship, Buffalo Grove, IL

Notable achievements:
Dean's List, President's List, Drake Alumnae Scholarship recipient, Presidential Scholarship recipient

Campus activities:
Academy of Student Pharmacists, DRUxGS, Circle K (community service organization), South Asian Student Association), SAB Relays Committee

Off-Campus Interests:
Bharatnatyam dance (Indian classical dance), oil painting, traveling, trying out ethnic foods, watching documentaries

Career aspirations:
"I would like to complete a hospital residency in the area of pediatrics. After a few years of experience, I would like to work in an orphanage in another country."

Drake Experience:
"The Drake community is like family. Everyone is willing to help out and just give a hand. It's great! It's like home away from home."

Andrew Kem

Major: Music, Jazz Concentration

Hometown: Ankeny, IA

Internships/Work Experience:
Professional musician, guitar instructor and recording studio intern

Campus activities:
Jazz Ensemble I, Drake Choir, Jazz Combo

Drake opportunities:
"I have gained so much more music experience just being around Des Moines. It's a small enough city where competing for gigs isn't quite like what it would be in Chicago or New York, so if you work at it you can land a few."

Drake's best-kept secret:
"The secret storage elevators in Jewett Hall — they don't just lift stuff, two to three people could cram in there depending on their size."

Favorite class:
"Jazz improvisation really challenges me and gives me the necessary skills needed to survive as a jazz musician."

Jeff Grassmeyer

Major: Secondary Education and Math Education

Hometown: Fremont, NE

Notable Achievements:
Dean's list Fall 2006; "Top Junior" nominee; 2007 Missouri Valley Conference indoor 3,000 meter champion; 2007 Missouri Valley Conference outdoor 5,000 meter champion; three-time all Missouri Valley Conference selection; two-time Missouri Valley Conference scholar athlete of the week; Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country athlete of the week

Campus Activities:
Cross Country, Track and Field, reading volunteer at River Woods Elementary

Career Aspirations:
"My current plan is to become a high school math teacher and coach cross-country and track at that level."

Drake Experience:
"The combination of athletic and academic experience that I've received at Drake has been priceless. I've learned to balance both aspects of my life with relative ease, and coming to school at Drake has no doubt helped me achieve that."

Campus Nickname:
"Grass."

Drake Ritual:
"Participating in the Relays any way that I can; whether that be competing in them or taking in the whole week of activities, it's easily the best week on campus."

Norah Carroll

Major: Magazines/English

Hometown: Rosemount, MN

Internships/Work Experience:
Editorial internship with Rosemount Town Pages

Notable Achievements:
Top First-Year Student Award, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, LeaderShape Conference Delegate, Dean’s List, Presidential Scholarship recipient, Trustee Scholarship recipient, AP Scholar with Honors, National Merit Scholarship Commended Student

Campus Activities:
Student Senate Campus Advancement Committee, Delta Gamma sorority, Homecoming Executive Board, Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute, Drake magazine, Concert Band, Society of Professional Journalists, St. Catherine of Siena CORE leadership team

Off-Campus Interests:
Young Ambassador to Northern Ireland, Friends of Saint Patrick; Relay for Life committee member; St. John Neumann music ministries; Irish dancing; flute performance; reading; writing; learning new languages.

Career Aspirations:
“I would love to work as an editor for a girls’ or women’s lifestyle magazine or to do public relations work for a non-profit organization.”

Drake Experience:
“The members of the Drake faculty are as diverse as the students are. They bring a lifetime of experience to each course they teach, and their unique perspectives push students to look beyond the obvious and to stretch the possibilities.”

Jess Hoffert

Major: Magazines and Broadcast News

Hometown: Winona, MN

Internships/Work Experience:
ABC Democratic Presidential Debate at Drake University

Notable Achievements:
George A. Carpenter Scholarship Recipient

Campus Activities:
Honors Council Vice President, Drake Choir Treasurer

Off-Campus Interests:
Exploring new attractions and places to eat in Des Moines, volunteering at Carver Elementary School and Stover Church of the Brethren, and taking myself on dates to the movie theater.

Career Aspirations:
“One of my dream jobs would be working as a news anchor or reporter for a national broadcast corporation. The other would be freelance writing for a travel magazine.”

Favorite Class/Professor:
“Professor Wright is hilarious. I think he purposefully swore about 10 times during his lecture on indecency in the media.”

Favorite Food on Campus:
“In addition to the amazing omelets in Olmsted, the chicken fajita wraps at Spike’s are spectacular.”

Megan Hutcheson

Major:Public Relations and Marketing

Hometown:West Allis, WI

Notable Achievements:
Top First Year Student, Presidents List, National Alumni Scholar

Campus Activities:
Student Senate, organizational senator; Kappa Kappa Gamma, public relations chair; Student Activities Board, bands co-chair; Emerging Leadership Model; Admission Cole-ition; Drake Symphony

Off-Campus Interests:
Running and training for half-marathons, reading, watching “The Office,” spending time with friends, cooking and baking.

Career Aspirations:
“I would like to work in public relations and marketing for a non-profit organization such as the Make a Wish Foundation or the Susan G Kommen Foundation.”

Drake Experience:
“One of the most interesting experiences of my freshman year was the Iowa Caucuses. The campus was so energized and involved, and candidates were visiting constantly. It was really a great experience to have, and one that I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”

Weird Personal Fact:
“I like to put peanut butter on almost any food.”

Amelia Mieth

Major:Accounting/Marketing double major

Hometown:Crystal Lake, IL

Internships/Work Experience:
I work with the McHenry County Golf Association at their summer golf tournaments in promotion and tournament production.

Notable Achievements:
Presidential Scholar recipient, Dean’s List, Top First-Year Student nominee

Campus activities:
Student Senate parliamentarian, cheerleading squad, Alpha Phi Sorority

Career aspirations:
“I would like to work for either a golf company or a financial company, working as a marketing accounts manager.”

Drake Experience:
“Drake has a big-school feel with small-school numbers. I am getting the national recognition of a larger school by attending one of the top private universities in the Midwest, as well as numerous career opportunities, but I am not just a number. At Drake, I was able to be involved right away, form great relationships with my professors and peers, and start building my future right away.”

Des Moines’ Best-Kept Secret:
“The East Side of downtown.”

Dustin Baker

Major: Senior Psychology Major with a Neuroscience Minor

Hometown: St. Michael, MN

Internships/Work Experience:
Youth Shelter Worker, Student Research

Notable Achievements:
Dean’s List 5/6 semesters, Drake Top Dog Male Beauty Pageant Winner

Campus Activities:
Student Ambassador, 94.1 KDRA-LP radio show, Tennis Club, Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, President of Theta Chi Fraternity

Career aspirations:
“I want to receive my PhD in Clinical Psychology, and work with those who have mental disorders.”

Drake in one sentence:
“Drake is a place where you can be yourself while learning about who you are going to be.”

How do you do to blow off steam?
“By far the best way to get some steam off your chest is to do the mud slip and slide in Helmick Commons. It’s also a great way to meet people, because there is no better icebreaker than ‘Do you want to slide in some mud with me?’”