Paige Davidson ’26
“There are very few places that really teach people how to love to work. Gustavus is a place where students learn how to love the process and love the work. And that sets them up for success in any field, professional or creative or scientific.”
As a Biology and Studio Art double major with an interest in dance, Davidson elbowed her way into a medical illustration internship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
Gustavus sold her with its strong sciences and its fine arts opportunities. “I was most focused on the biology side of things—what research and educational things Gustavus had to offer.” That included the newly renovated and expanded Nobel Hall of Science, only in its second year of full operation on Davidson’s Move-In Day.
As for the arts: “Everything is intermixed,” she says. “You can pave your own way.” Plus, “my professors are excited to hear about all of the things I’m doing. I’ve even applied my art skills to my science courses.” For instance, she created art for the vertebrate zoology lab manual, and redesigned the lab’s windows. And with the advantages of a new curriculum that values interdisciplinary learning, “It’s really not challenging to double major.”
Eli Spurgeon ’26
“I chose Gustavus because I was able to participate in a multitude of experiences that were unique from one another.”
Spurgeon ’26 is an Exercise Physiology major and President of the Gustavus Choir. While they may seem very separate, Spurgeon, a bass, has found that his major has given him a much better understanding of the physical aspects of singing.
Through different lenses he has been able to “build perspective and appreciation for interests and paths outside of your own,” he says.
A good example: The tour he was part of his freshmen year. More specifically: his experience singing with G Choir in the famed Cathedral of Stana Maria del Fiore (more commonly known as the Duomo) in Milan.
“I can still hear the waves of sound reverberating in that ginormous cathedral.”
He was also given the opportunity to sing with the esteemed Voces8 group; he will always remember how “compelling of an experience being on stage with a group of that caliber was.”
The different parts of himself that he can explore, and the small-college feel that is described by people around campus made Gustavus feel like a home away from home,” he says.
Timothy Snyder ’28
“You can explore so many different interests even just in the classroom environment; everything from karate to making video games to costume design.”
Snyder is a Computer Science and Theater Performance double major with many different avenues of interest.
Rather than being academically or intellectually connected, theater and computer science are simply aspects of Snyder’s life he is passionate about and wants to continue doing. The one similarity he has noticed is the “the sense of camaraderie and collaboration you get from building something with a group of people.”
There are other reasons Snyder chose Gustavus. Both of his parents attended Gustavus, and his older brother too. Snyder’s original plan was to go to a much larger school but found that “a smaller school with a more manageable school-life balance” was a better fit for him.
Plus, no matter how separate his passions, there was still room for them at Gustavus.
Arianna Bergeron ’26
“The best part of the liberal arts is how interconnected everything is.”
Bergeron is a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major with a Sociology and Anthropology minor. She also sings in Gustavus Choir. With these varied fields of interest, it is easy to understand how they would overlap and inform each other.
Bergeron has found that “Biochemistry and Sociology work together in ways that deeply shape how I think,” especially as she works towards a career in medicine. Sociology has shown her how to see biology as a social system, and biology has shown her how to analyze important topics through data and scientific reasoning. Both together have allowed her “to think more complexly about issues, to approach medicine with both analytical precision and human understanding and empathy.”
She says, “I was drawn to Gustavus because I could continue singing in choir while pursuing rigorous academics.” She has been able to tour internationally with G Choir, most notably to Spain, France, and Italy during her first year.
Tours provide an important connection between her work in her Sociology and Anthropology major and her love for music. She has seen first hand the power of “sharing our music across cultures and bridging language and cultural gaps through song.” She credits the opportunities Gustavus Choir has given her with her “ability to connect with others” and “a deep appreciation for how music can unite people.”
