Orientation Leaders
Alana Hettver
Hometown: Murdock, MN
Major: Social work
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU because the first time that I visited I could tell that it was a supportive community and that everyone is basically one big happy family.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: My favorite GRD event is slip and slide kickball because it is a fun activity and you get to be in a team with people you have not met before and you get to bond with them.
Alexia Dietz
Hometown: Montevideo, MN
Major: Education & PWC
Why I Chose SMSU:
Favorite Gold Rush Event:
Arlo Riemer
Hometown: Winsted, MN
Major: Psychology
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU because I came from a small town and I liked the small town feel! I like meeting new people and SMSU is perfect because you have the ability to meet all sorts of different people without getting overwhelmed too quickly. Tuition being cheap was just an added benefit ;)
Favorite Gold Rush Event: My favorite GRD event was the glow in the dark bonfire because it was the first opportunity to meet people organically in a comfortable environment and space. You could exist and find others who existed in the same way you did!
Aydrial Taylor
Hometown: Flora, IN
Major: Social Work
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU because it was an amazing opportunity that allowed for me to live comfortably, a very close school that your professors know you very well, and all around just the feeling of happiness that came over me on my visit.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: My favorite Gold Rush Event is mud volleyball because you get to see all of the new freshman, your new classmates, and have fun. You are playing volleyball in the mud with your new friends, the happiness from Mud Volleyball is uncontrollable.
Azhar Hassan
Hometown: Marshall, MN
Major: Exercise Science
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU so I could be closer to home.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: Playfair, I enjoyed it because I made some good friends because of that event.
Brenna Springborg
Hometown: Marshall, MN
Major: Communication Studies Major/Health Communication Minor
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU because I love the campus community. Every professor and staff member is here to support students, and the campus climate is so welcoming. I also chose SMSU for the smaller class sizes and affordability.
Favorite Gold Rush Event:The headphone disco was so much fun! It was so cool that everybody could listen to different music, and still have a great time together. But Mud Volleyball is a classic! :)
Daniel Olson
Hometown: Nashwauk, MN
Major: Social Studies Education
Why I Chose SMSU:I chose SMSU because when I visited something about it felt like home.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: Mud volleyball because I am very competitive.
Kailey Twiest
Hometown: Norwood Young America, MN
Major: Biology Minor: Chemistry
Why I Chose SMSU:I chose SMSU because it reminded me of home. It has a wonderful small town feeling and allows you to feel less lost in the crowd. SMSU allows all students to be seen and heard because of its smaller, welcoming campus.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: My favorite event was the talks done by Dr. Martin.
Katrina Timm
Hometown: Lamberton, MN
Major: Management with Entrepreneurship
Why I Chose SMSU: SMSU has a great Business program and I really like this area.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: Headphone disco. I love dancing and meeting new people well having fun. it's a great way to get some energy out.
Lacie Fetters
Hometown: Fairmont, MN
Major: Elementary Education
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU because it is affordable and not too far from home. Also, because I wanted to be at a smaller campus to have a better sense of community.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: My favorite Gold Rush Day event was the scavenger hunt.
Maddie Geske
Hometown: Lamberton, MN
Major: Communication Arts and Literature Education, English
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU because I loved the education department and the sense of community.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: BINGO – I love to play BINGO and relax!
Ogo Chudi-Igwe
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Major: Computer Science Minor: Business Management
Why I Chose SMSU:I chose SMSU because the campus is safe, the class sizes are small which allows me to interact with my professors freely, and because of its affordability.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: Movie on the scoreboard.
Olivia VanderBeek
Hometown: Eden Valley, MN
Major: Exercise Science
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU because it’s sorta close to my home and it’s affordable for me.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: I really liked headphone disco because I was popping out every move I had in my book :)
Paige Klaphake
Hometown: Elrosa, MN
Major: Digital Media and Broadcasting and a Digital Design Minor
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU because of the people and the small class sizes!
Favorite Gold Rush Event: Mud Volleyball
Paul Woestehoff
Hometown: Jordan, MN
Major: Education
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU because of the campus community. Everyone was welcoming and inviting!
Favorite Gold Rush Event: My favorite Gold Rush Days event was riding go-karts at The Gym. It was fun to drive the course and get a taste of what the city of Marshall has to offer.
Peyton Anderson
Hometown: Davie, FL
Major: Biology
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU because I wanted the collegiate experience that had a family atmosphere, while being so far away from home.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: My favorite GRD event is Mud volleyball! I like it because it gives you the chance to get together with new people to get into a fun and competitive game while getting dirty!
Roel Palomo
Hometown: Albert Lea, MN
Major: Sports Management, Minor - Coaching
Why I Chose SMSU: How close everything is here.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: Mud Volleyball, and being able to see everyone.
Sam Lund
Hometown: Buffalo, MN
Major: Political Science and Justice Administration
Why I Chose SMSU: I joined smsu because I felt like I was home. Everyone was so nice and so eager to be involved in my academic success. I do feel at home here and I know I made the best choice to start my path in higher education!
Favorite Gold Rush Event: Convocation, I get to speak!
Shane Rogers
Hometown: Storden, MN
Major: Computer Science
Why I Chose SMSU:I chose SMSU because it was close to home and it was the most affordable! The SMSU community is also very inclusive and full of diversity! I've felt welcome here as I gained confidence and reassurance from my peers over time.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: Headphone Disco; music is the life of the party, and it is a great way to meet new people with the vibes!
Shenal Alex Peries
Hometown: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Major: Data Science & Finance
Why I Chose SMSU: I chose SMSU for its close-knit community, reasonable tuition, and the incredibly supportive staff and faculty.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: Mud Volleyball. Who doesn't love the mud?
Tristan Primus
Hometown: Buffalo, MN
Major: Creative Writing, Minor: Philosophy
Why I Chose SMSU: The reason I chose SMSU was because of my mom. She got a job in Marshall and having visited a few times I thought it was a nice little town. Then I toured SMSU and realized that this was the place for me.
Favorite Gold Rush Event: My favorite GRD event is the campfire at the end. In my life campfires have often been an occasion where I was surrounded by interesting people. It is also at the end of goldrush days, so people are more relaxed and confident, so they usually come out of their comfort zone. The fire is a really great place to meet people and have a good time before the year starts and it is where I met a lot of the people that I still hang out with, so it has a warm place in my heart.
Last Modified: 5/9/24 2:19 PM | Website Feedback