After turning their tassels at the spring commencement ceremony, a few Linfield College graduates share their plans for the future.

Katie Paysinger

Dayton
Mass communication
I am excited for an opportunity to intern for Dick Clark Productions, a television production company, in Los Angeles this summer.

Katherine Franklin

Gresham
Nursing
My plan is take a couple weeks to study for the NCLEX, pass, then hopefully be accepted into a nurse residency program. I would love to stay in the Portland area but am up for an adventure if the need arises.

Austin Hocker

Cave Junction
Exercise science
I am going to the University of Oregon to start my Ph.D. in human physiology.

Arielle Perkins

Corvallis, Mont.
Accounting and mathematics
I plan to stay in the area and find a job with an accounting firm. I hope to complete the CPA exam within a year and I believe the accounting courses I have taken at Linfield have provided a great foundation for being successful in this venture.

Evan Hilberg

Corvallis
Exercise science
I was admitted to Eastern Washington’s master’s program for exercise science. I will also work on becoming certified as a health fitness specialist.

Michael Eldredge

Sammamish, Wash.
Exercise science
My immediate plans are to become a personal trainer at a local gym but eventually I will pursue a doctoral degree in exercise physiology.

Samantha Mack

Olympia, Wash.
Communication arts
That is a million-dollar question! I will return home for the summer to consider my next steps. Eventually, I would like to pursue a career in the Portland or Seattle area, perhaps in public relations or human resources. In a few years, I hope to return to graduate school.

Sierra Stopper

Oregon City
Spanish
My plan is to work overseas doing Christian missions work, whether leading a campus ministry at a university or working in communities with great need. I hope to get more formal Bible education and training at a seminary, but for now I plan on working and gaining experience serving here in the U.S. for a few years.

Timothy Andrew Wagar

Yakima, Wash.
Finance
I will attend the University Of Washington School of Law this fall to begin a journey towards a law degree and a career in law.

Tracy Beaver

Sparks, Nev.
Music
I’m moving to Reno, where I play in a string quartet, the String Beings, and play gigs and weddings around the Reno/Tahoe area. I hope to build up a private studio and perhaps audition for the philharmonic. I’m going to take off a year and then pursue grad school, either at the University of Nevada or a conservatory.

Cole Bixenman

Federal Way, Wash.
Finance
I hope to get a job as a financial professional somewhere in the Northwest. I am excited to take my knowledge base from Linfield and expand upon it and learn in a new job setting.

Alessandra Karlin

Myrtle Point
Theatre
I will attend the University of Montana. I was accepted to their theatre graduate program for scenic design and might also focus on technical directing as my secondary area of study.

Lauren Ross

Portland
Sociology
I hope to gain a position with AmeriCorps and eventually work in non-profits or social services.

Dayna Tapp

Centennial, Colo.
Sociology
I will begin an AmeriCorps placement with Urban Servant Corps, a one-year, full-time volunteer program located in Denver, Colo. I will fulfill two half-time positions at St. Paul Local Assistance Ministry and Earthlinks. This opportunity integrates my passion for service with the social issues I have evaluated, discussed and analyzed in my time at Linfield.

Lauren Williams

Albany
Mathematics
My plans are still hazy. I am waiting to hear back from Northeastern University regarding my financial aid package; if possible, I will be enrolling in their master’s program for bioinformatics. Plan B involves doing research at Oregon State University for a year before going back to school. I also have other job applications and potential offers in the works as a backup plan.