Saint Mary's announced six valedictorians will represent the class of 2022 in an email Wednesday evening.
The honorees are Margaret Devitt, Allyson Emmett, Grace Floerchinger, Lauren Honkamp, Katherine O'Hara and Emily Tobias.
Devitt, hailing from La Grange, Illinois, will earn a bachelor of arts in speech-language pathology and complete two minors in psychology and gerontology. On campus, Devitt served as the vice president of internal affairs and chief of staff for Student Government Association (SGA). She has also been on the executive board of Saint Mary's chapter of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association, on the President's Board for Saint Mary’s Dance Marathon and as a representative for the President’s Council on Inclusivity and Multicultural Diversity (PCIMD). Devitt has been a student clinician in Judd Leighton Speech-Language Clinic and was a fellow in the Dialogue Project, a campus-wide initiative. Starting in August, Devitt will attend Rush University in Chicago for her master's in speech-language pathology.
Emmett is from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and will graduate with a bachelor of arts in Spanish and global studies, with a concentration in anthropology, as a first-generation college student. Since arriving on campus, Emmett has worked with the Office for the Common Good as a Beyond the Belle student leader to connect students with educational volunteer opportunities in South Bend. Through this program, Emmett also served as an English literacy tutor for elementary school students. Emmett received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study in Seville, Spain. Additionally, she served as a study abroad program coordinator and Spain peer advisor in the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership. There, she served as the student representative on the Global Education Committee. Currently, Emmett is pursuing opportunities to teach English in Spain and was recently named an alternate for an English Teaching Assistant Fulbright Award for Spain.
Floerchinger hails from Rockford, Michigan, and will complete her bachelor of arts in economics and environmental studies with a concentration in global environmental policy. At Saint Mary's, Floerchinger served as the SGA sustainability committee co-chair and the student representative on the Going Green Committee. Floerchinger is also an active member of Notre Dame Dance Company, and she served on the morale committee for the College's Dance Marathon. Throughout her senior year, Floerchinger conducted research in economics for “The Status of Girls in Indiana“ report. She was under the guidance of Dr. Sianne Vijay and Dr. Ari Farshbaf. Most recently, Floerchinger accepted a full-time position with Fannie Mae as a business analyst in capital markets.
From Rockford, Illinois, Honkamp will receive her bachelor's degree in social work with minors in sociology and gerontology. Honkamp served as the president of the Social Work Club at Saint Mary's and as an officer of the club SMC for the Spectrum. Currently, she interns at AIDS Ministries in South Bend, assisting with case management of HIV and AIDS-positive clients. She also interns at Ryan's Place, leading small group activities intended to guide children through the grieving process. In the fall, Honkamp will attend Loyola University of Chicago to complete a master's in social work.
O'Hara, from New Lenox, Illinois, will earn her bachelor's degree in business administration with a finance concentration. Part of various clubs across her four years, O'Hara most recently was involved with the Financial Class Council. The council advises and approves budgets for student-run organizations. O'Hara has spent the last three years as a resident advisor in Le Mans Hall and Opus Hall and as a student assistant to the associate director of Residence Life. Additionally, she served as a teaching assistant for an introductory computer science course. After graduation, O'Hara will head to Chicago as an associate analyst for the financial planning and analysis department of United Airlines.
Tobias graduated in December of 2021 with a bachelor of science in statistical and actuarial mathematics. She also earned a minor in computer science. The Wheatfield, Indiana, native worked as an IT help desk consultant on campus and held several officer positions in the Math and Computer Science Club. While at Saint Mary's Tobias was a member of both the Women's Choir and the Chapel Choir. In the summer of 2021, Tobias worked remotely for Michigan State University’s Computational Math, Science, & Engineering Department completing research that analyzed how students at MSU think about functions when solving computational science problems. She also interned at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Indiana, working as a civil servant for the US Navy. Recently, Tobias accepted a full-time position at Epic, a private healthcare software company in Wisconsin.
These six students and their peers will be celebrated at the College's 175th Commencement ceremony on Le Mans Green Saturday, May 14.
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