Contributors
Alexis Aaby
Alexis Aaby is a junior at Gustavus. An English Education (CALT) major and Art Studio minor, she is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, Kappa Delta Pi, and A Moment of Magic. Alexis is also a minimalist and fan of true crime documentaries and podcasts.
Josie Blake
Josie Blake is a senior Sociology and Anthropology major. On campus she is part of the cross country and track and field teams along with the Gustavus Ringers. She is originally from Waukegan, IL, but plans to live in the twin cities after graduation this year for an Americorps year of service. A few things that give her joy in life include great lakes, kombucha, and cooking with friends.
Hannah Borgh
Hannah Borgh is currently a senior English and French double major at Gustavus. She's originally from Bettendorf, Iowa, and she has loved being a part of the Gustavus Women's Tennis Team. She loves all things Disney and One Direction and is still trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life.
Kyra Bowar
Kyra Bowar is a senior English and Communication Studies double major from Burnsville, MN. When she's not reading, writing, or taking pictures, she enjoys hiking, interesting podcasts, exploring new places, and having lively conversations. She would like to thank her plants--Dumbledore, Luna, Hermione, Harry, Seamus, and Dean--for keeping her world green and lively.
Kelly Carlson
Kelly Carlson is a junior English and Environmental Studies life science major, with a double minor in Music and Philosophy. She's from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and loves her hometown especially. She loves to travel, indulge in quality time, and play on her switch in her free time. While she loves wiritng, she rarely does it, and is grateful for the opportunity to continue writing within Firethorne.
Hannah Calkins
Hannah Calkins is a senior Studio Art major at Gustavus. She received the 2020 Gustavus Presidents Art Award and her art is currently installed in President Bergman’s dining room. Beauty and light are the most important elements in her work, which often focuses on intimacy and her life experiences.
Ainsley Cox
Ainsley Cox is a first-year at Gustavus. She is a member of Pound Pals, Building Bridges, and the Theatre department. Originally from Saint Paul, she grew up spending the majority of her time outside exploring. When she is not busy with her academics, she enjoys reading, writing, and playing with her dog.
Nicole Cundiff
Nicole Cundiff is a senior at Gustavus, graduating with a double major in English and French. She minors in Gender Women and Sexuality Studies, and is a four-time recipient of Gustavus's Lawrence Owens Prize in Creative Writing. When she's not reading, writing, or watching sitcoms with her roommates, Nicole can always be found with a sketchbook in hand
Ethan Davide
Ethan Davide is a senior Communications Arts/Literature Teaching major at Gustavus. He is involved in Legacy Acapella and game club. He is from Waseca Minnesota and has been using poetry to help process the recent death of his dad.
Gigi DeGrood
Gigi deGrood is currently a junior at Gustavus. She is originally from Edina, MN, and studies Studio Art and Art History at Gustavus and is also a member of the Gustavus Choir. Her preferred artistic medium is painting, and her art is influenced by psychedelic album covers, art history, cartoons and her love of color.
Jonas Doerr
Jonas Doerr is a first-year at Gustavus. He plays trumpet in the Adolphus Jazz Ensemble and participates in the Speech and Debate Club and Proclaim. He is the publisher and writer of The Dashing Galoot and is a pun devotee.
Tsering Dolma
Tsering Dolma is a sophomore at Gustavus majoring in English. She is a board member for KONNECT, the Korean Culture Club, a member of HACO, and a volunteer at Pound Pals. She was raised in New York City for much of her life before moving to New Brighton, Minnesota, and enjoys writing a variety of genres.
Darian Dominski
Darian Dominski is currently a junior at Gustavus, a recent transfer student. She is from Minnetonka, Minnesota and loves animals, poetry, and spending time outside with her fiancée Emma.
Tyra Ericson
Tyra Ericson is a senior English major and Political Science minor at Gustavus. She is a coordinator for the Student Organization "Gustie Buddies" and serves as the Variety Editor for the Gustavian Weekly campus newspaper. When she's not busy around campus, Tyra loves to be active, be with friends and family, hike, and travel. Her camera work focuses on travel photography and videography.
DeAnna Giles
DeAnna Giles is a senior at Gustavus studying English and Communication Studies double major. She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society and Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society. She is also a member of the Track and Field Team and the Pan Afrikan Student Organization. DeAnna was born and raised in Plymouth, MN, and is an aspiring journalist looking to branch out into the world post-graduation.
Jariya (Riya) Goerwitz
Jariya Goerwitz, born in Bangkok, Thailand, was dragged to the USA without her consent at the ripe old age of 1. She got over it. Nineteen years later, she now deludes herself into believing she’s a successful sophomore at Gustavus Adolphus College. Before the pandemic, Jariya liked playing video games, reading, and cooking. Thankfully Covid hasn’t impinged on these activities much. Since coming to Gustavus, she’s also accomplished many things like being on the lacrosse team for all of five minutes, breaking flavored syrup bottles at the Steamery, and waking up before noon semi-consistently. Finally, she thanks you for reading her work.
Clare Greeman
Clare Greeman is currently a sophomore at Gustavus. She is from Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is an English and Gender Studies double major and hopes to become an editor after graduation.
Katie Gunderson
Katie Gunderson is currently a senior at Gustavus. She is a member of the Gustavus Swim and Dive team and is also a member of the Tri-Sigma sorority on campus. She is originally from Minnetonka, MN, and has fallen in love with photography over the years and was happy to be able to submit some of her work in this year's Firethorne.
Kulle Hassan
Eman 'Kulle' Hassan is currently a junior at Gustavus. She is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She enjoys writing short poems in her free time.
Gracie Jackson
Gracie Jackson is currently a sophomore at Gustavus. She is from Roseville, MN, and is passionate about art, writing, and activism. On campus, she is a member of Big Partner/Little Partner, Ultimate Frisbee, and a photographer for the Gustavian Weekly.
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is currently a sophomore at Gustavus, where he is majoring in Political Science and Philosophy. At Gustavus, Eric is involved in the Gustavus Choir and is a Collegiate Fellow. He is originally from Paynesville, MN
Paige Kamin
Paige Kamin is a senior Communication Studies major and English minor at Gustavus. She is from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is involved in the Choir of Christ Chapel, and is a member of the Sigma Tau Delta National English Honor Society. Paige loves singing, writing, collecting tiny plants, hanging out with her dog, and playing the ukulele.
Chloe Keller
Chloe Keller is currently a student at Gustavus Adolphus and planning to be a political science major. She is originally from Amery Wisconsin.
Ja'de Lin Till
Ja'de Lin Till has not given us a biography
Mackenzie Mazhari
Mackenzie Mazhari is a senior nursing major and member of the 3 Crowns Curriculum at Gustavus. She is a proud member of the Gustavus Women's Rugby team and flute player in the Gustavus Wind Symphony. Originally from St. Paul, MN, Mackenzie has been an avid writer and reader since the ripe age of seven. Her schooling has mostly focused on nursing, mental health, and american sign language but she was lucky enough to be able to sneak in some English classes here and there- most recently Dr. Bryant's creative writing course where these poems originated.
Charles Miller III
Charles Miller III also likes to be called CJ. He is currently a junior Geology Major at Gustavus. He is a member of Club tennis, Geo club, Pharaohs of the Future, and A moment of Magic. He's from South Minneapolis. He volunteers at Fred Well Tennis and Education Center in St. Paul. In which he teaches elementary students and middle schoolers how to play tennis.
Megan Morris
Megan Morris is a senior Theatre major with an emphasis in Costume Design and Technology. She has been using poetry as an outlet since high school and loves sharing the love of writing with others. In her free time, she enjoys painting, altering clothes, and watching baking shows on Netflix.
Kathleen (Katie) O'Brien
Katie O'Brien is a senior English and Psychology double major from Le Sueur, MN. She has a deep appreciation for nature and all its beauties and enjoys creating art from it. In her free time, Katie can be found crying into novels, writing goofy poetry, sleeping in hammocks, and hyperventilating at the top of mountains due to overexcited climbing.
Audrey Ochtrup-DeKeyrel
Audrey Ochtrup-DeKeyrel is a junior Environmental Studies and Geography major at GAC this year, from Lanesboro, Minnesota. When not making art, Audrey can be found working at Big Hill Farm, or, doing something with the Environmental Action Coalition, or digging through compost and recycling (she gets paid for it), or probably doing something funny with LineUs Improv troupe.
Marie Osuna
Marie Osuna is a current senior majoring in English and Psychological Science. She most enjoys writing poetry, knitting, and spending time with her friends, family, and cat. She is currently the co-president of the Habitat for Humanity and Sigma Tau Delta executive boards and is involved with the American Cancer Society, the Psychology Social Justice League, and The Gustavian Weekly.
Cadence Paramore
Cadence Paramore is a sophomore English major with a minor in Political Science. She's illustrated a children's book and had a poem and photograph published in last year's edition of the Firethorne. She's had another photograph displayed in the 2019 Honors Visual Art Exhibition at the Minnesota Museum of American Art. She currently lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is hoping to one day write a book and become an English professor.
Sam Peters
Sam Peters is currently a sophomore at Gustavus with a double major in English and Theatre. He participates in the Gustavus Choir, tutors at the Writing Center, and acts in various theatrical productions on campus. He is from Glenwood, Minnesota (near Alexandria), and his favored mode of procrastination is playing the nearest guitar or piano.
Tessa Pieper
Tessa Pieper, an English major, is currently a sophomore at Gustavus. Outside of writing and procrastinating said writing, she lifeguards and teaches swim lessons, despite having never taken lessons herself.
Sarah Pucel
Sarah Pucel is currently a junior at Gustavus majoring in English and Psychology. She is originally from Wayzata, Minnesota and is a member of Ducks Unlimited, club tennis, and Delight at Gustavus. In her free time, she loves to watch movies, be outdoors, and have dance parties with her roommates.
Connor Rautio
Connor Rautio is a freshman at Gustavus. He is interested in many different areas of the arts, such as poetry, music, theater, and film, and although he hasn't yet declared it, he is leaning toward becoming an art major. He is from New Brighton, MN, and his favorite poets are Sylvia Plath, e e cummings, and TS Eliot.
Katie Samek
Katie Samek is currently a freshman at Gustavus majoring in English. She is originally from Eagle Lake, Minnesota and is a member of the Gustavus Wind Orchestra. In her free time, she loves to draw, knit, play Magic and D&D, and write both poetry and prose.
Livija Shaeffer
Livija Shaeffer is a current junior at Gustavus Adolphus College. She is a Studio Arts major and apart of many different student orgs on campus. Her main mediums she likes to work with are fiber and paint.
Tori Smith
Tori Smith is currently a junior at Gustavus majoring in Enlgish with an emphasis on writing. She is a coordinator for Pound Pals as well as a writer for The Gustavian Weekly. She is also a member of the Sigma Tau Delta National English Honor Society and the Tri Sigma sorority. She is originally from Plymouth, MN where she loves to read, write, and spend time with her two adorable little nephews.
Jenny Stageberg
Jenny Stageberg has not given us a biographhy
Taite Stevens Aldrich
Taite Stevens Aldrich is currently a sophomore at Gustavus. She is a Studio Art major and English and Arts Administration minor.
Laura Stickney
Laura Stickney graduated from Gustavus in December 2020, majoring in English with minors in Comparative Literature and Studio Art. She currently works as Communications & Development Intern for 826 MSP, a nonprofit that seeks to amplify the voices of underserved Twin Cities youth through creative writing programs. An aspiring poet and artist, Laura is a two-time winner of the Lawrence Owens Prize for Poetry (2020 & 2021) and will be attending Hamline University's M.F.A in Creative Writing Program this fall. Laura's recent work explores the relationship between her whimsical inner world and outside reality, reminiscing on childhood days gone by and getting lost in fantastic flights of imagination.
Carley Swanson-Garro
Carley Swanson-Garro is a sophomore English and Communication studies major with an accidental Scandinavian studies minor. She hails from Bemidji, Minnesota, and is a passionate social justice and mental health advocate who uses poetry as a way to process trauma and check the egos of cis men on Tinder. In addition to poetry, Carley has written scripts for the YouTube channel Psych2Go, run several slightly-embarrassing personal blogs, and collaborated on a successful grant for the St Peter State Hospital Museum
Lauren Tillman
Lauren Tillman is a freshman here at Gustavus. She competes for the Gustavus Women’s Cross Country and Track teams. She is a loving plant mom, an aspiring English and Environmental Studies double major, and an avid Nordic skier. Lauren is from Maple Grove, MN.
Marco-Sander Tougnon
Marco Tougnon is currently a junior at Gustavus. An English major with a minor in French, when he’s not writing, reading or working, he can be found at the gym and playing basketball.
Victoria Vang
Victoria Vang is currently a senior at Gustavus. She is privileged to have been part of the Hmong American Cultural Outreach (HACO) during her four years at Gustavus. She is from Sheboygan, WI, but grew up in Minnesota. She aspires to teach abroad someday. She is committed to writing more and allowing others to hear her voice.
Bailey Wagner
Bailey Wagner is a first-year at Gustavus. She is a student fellow for the Public Deliberation and Dialogue team on campus. Bailey is originally from Pierre, South Dakota. Although Bailey's major is undecided, she is very excited to continue her education at Gustavus!
Kelsey Walock
Kelsey Walock is a current sophomore studying History and Political Science. Currently the Co-President of the Speech and Debate team, she is a big fan of forensics, debate, and prose. As featured through her t-shirts and dorm decor, she loves midwest emo music maybe a bit too much. Lastly, she thinks it's crucial for readers to know that they can find George Orwell's classic novella Animal Farm online for free, and that it's a great book (and probably her favorite).
Michaela Woodward
Michaela Woodward is currently a sophomore Spanish major at Gustavus. She is a Spanish Tutor, a writer for The Gustavian Weekly, secretary for Sigma Delta Pi, and plays saxophone in the Gustavus Wind Symphony and Adolphus Jazz Band. When she isn't reading or writing, you can find her learning languages, baking pies, and perusing the nearest bookstore.
Autumn Zierman
Autumn Zierman is currently a junior at Gustavus. She works for the Gustavian, the GAC Writing Center and Diamond Dust Bakery, and also spends time as a member of Model United Nations, Speech and Debate and the E. Terry Skones Investment Club. She is originally from Duluth Minnesota and plans to pursue a career in law post graduation next December and spends her limited free time finding new opponents in chess.