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Last Class
Seniors reflect on their spring-term choices
One of the joys of reaching senior status is that finally you are first in line for the class you most want. And yet it’s a bittersweet time, for it’s also the beginning of the end of your Centre career. After four long years, when it seemed as if there would always be another term, this is it. It’s time to pick the very last classes you will ever take at Centre. For many, the last classes are truly the capstone of a Centre education: an opportunity for connection, contemplation, and celebration. We asked members of the Class of 2009 to reflect on their choices. This is what they said.
I am taking Corporate Finance, economics senior seminar, senior art exhibition, and Mathematical Modeling of Economics: all for my majors. I wish I could have taken some more finance classes like Corporate Finance before this term since I am really enjoying it. I am working hard for my senior art show because I really want to have a good presentation for the four years of studying art (glass) at Centre.
Ying Wu ’09
Chengdu, China
Majors: economics and studio art
After Centre: master’s in art management at Sotheby’s
Last fall I was abroad in Strasbourg, which meant I had to take three classes for my major in my final semester. For my fourth slot, I ended up with Intro to Family Life. Of all my classes, I think this class is the one I am most glad I took. It has taught me a lot about how family life works, which is good preparation for the future. I think this class should be taught to everyone in their final semester of college, much like HHP (Health and Human Performance) is taught the first semester. It provides information that reaches beyond academics.
Ted Wright ’09
Nashville
Major: biochemistry and molecular biology
After Centre: master’s in biology, University of Cincinnati
Back in November, I signed up to take three science classes (General Physics-III, Instrumental Analysis, and Genetics) because they were required for my major or were pre-med requisites. The very first day of class this semester I decided to take on another course that I knew I just had to take: Intro to Family Life with Dr. Weston. It helps me get away from the science world and into the real world! Throughout the semester I’ve learned about mate selection, family systems, and my role in society as an established adult. I think those are good things to learn before graduating from college.Deysi Hernandez ’09
Louisville
Major: chemistry
At the end of my junior year, I decided to add studio art as a second major, so senior year has been hectic. This semester I have two studio art classes, an art history class, and a psychology class. Although it’s a lot of work, I have enjoyed my schedule because I’m doing what I enjoy.
Lauren Hausman ’09
Braselton, Ga.
Majors: art and psychology
After Centre: master’s in art therapy, University of Louisville
There were a couple of classes that particularly piqued my interest. The first was Philosophical Psychology with Brian Cooney, which has opened up a whole new understanding of how we can fathom the existence of other minds. One of the most frustrating aspects of life is the fact that we can never know what another is truly feeling or thinking—we can only infer from the characteristic behavior that falls under the particular criterion that we have incorporated for a group of actions. The other class was New Testament Literature. I was raised in Stanford, Ky., where it seemed as though almost everyone either went to church or believed that they should. There were always debates on what particular passages or teachings from Jesus meant, but usually with no real factual basis. The class has solidified my beliefs that while the text itself is flawed, the message that one is able to take away from it in order to better one’s own life is relevant and can help one live a more fulfilled and possibly happier life.
Cole Lanigan ’09
Stanford, Ky.
Major: philosophy
As a BMB major, I really don't have a lot of flexibility. For my elective, I chose to take the Human Animal. It’s not a senior-level course, so it was just for fun, even though it is another science course. Science is what I enjoy and what I’m most comfortable doing.
My senior seminar class is really going to be useful to me in graduate school. We learn how to successfully read, analyze, critique, and present primary research articles. If anyone in my class had reservations about public speaking before this class, those fears are gone by now. We have all improved our presentation skills, and reading primary research articles is second nature to us now. It’s great!
Katie Hutchinson ’09
Rockport, Ind.
Major: biochemistry and molecular biology
After Centre: research assistant at Vanderbilt University
BMB senior seminar has definitely been a class like none I have ever taken before. We read current, primary biomedical research articles and give hour-long small-group presentations on the data as if it were our own research, three per semester. This class has definitely improved my public speaking skills, as each presentation is videotaped, and we review the tape and meet with our professor to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our presentation. It’s a ton of work, but I’ve really learned a lot.
Mollie Sheron ’09
Wooster, Ohio
Majors: biochemistry and molecular biology and Spanish
After Centre: pharmacy school, University of Kentucky
As a senior religion major, the class that I literally had to take was the senior seminar. I had heard stories about how difficult and intimidating it would be. We read several books combining discussion about religion and current issues—the environment and global warming, for example—and met once weekly to discuss and debate the current reading. These debates were between teacher and student, with questions going both ways. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t intimidating at times. But it’s also true that this has been one of my favorite class experiences while at Centre.
Griffin Phillips ’09
Majors: anthropology and religion
Lexington, Ky.
After Centre: M.Div., Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
I didn’t really have a choice . . . I’m student teaching this spring and LOVE IT! I go to Hogsett Elementary School every day, just like a real teacher. It has been a wonderful last semester—but a tiring one.
Morgan Taylor ’09
Richmond, Va.
Major: elementary education with a Spanish emphasis
Choosing my classes was not as difficult as I had imagined it would be. I had a general education course that I needed to take in order to graduate, Introduction to Chemistry. Ironically, this gen ed course has become one of my favorites.
Mayra Angel ’09
Danville
Major: international studies
After Centre: M.A.T., University of Louisville, and Teach Kentucky
I needed one more class to fill out my schedule, and had enjoyed quantum chemistry with Dr. Montgomery. So I talked with him during the fall semester about potential research in the spring, and for my last two credit hours I spent time with him studying the effects of confinement on the helium atom.
Chase Wilson ’09
Paducah, Ky.
Major: chemistry
After Centre: M.D. at the University of Kentucky
Ayear ago I took the Physical Science of Volcanoes and became completely hooked on studying geology and volcanology. That summer, I got a research position at Oregon State University to study undersea volcanoes, mantle plumes, and plate tectonics. After presenting a poster on my research at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union, I knew absolutely that I wanted my career to be in volcanology. I chose my last class to be Environmental Geology, because studying the earth and its processes is my passion.
Molly Lindle ’09
Louisville
Majors: mathematics and physics
After Centre: Ph.D. in physical volcanology, Georgia Institute of Technology
My decision about which classes to take my senior semester was an easy one—I picked them based on the professors I knew I wanted to have again before I left. Dr. Reigelman’s English senior seminar on Melville and Sterne has been a lot of work for a senior spring semester, but we’ve gotten to do some pretty unusual things, such as take a weekend trip to Mystic, Conn., to learn about whaling while we were reading Moby Dick. I knew Dr. Tubb’s British Empire class would be helpful because I hope to get a Ph.D. in British history, and I wanted to experience his hilarious and interesting lectures one last time.
Danielle Dodson ’09
Lexington, Ky.
Majors: English and history
After Centre: Ph.D. in history, University of Kentucky
I’ve tried to fit in many different types of classes during my time at Centre, including acting, drawing, and President Roush’s leadership class. I’ve wanted to take Glassblowing with Stephen Powell ’74 since my freshman year. Centre’s glass-blowing program is such a unique aspect of our school, and I couldn’t graduate without taking advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Shaina Peterson ’09
St. Louis, Mo.
Major: international studies
All three were deliberate choices for my last classes at Centre. I am taking Gender and Politics with Lori Hartmann-Mahmud, one of her signature courses. I chose America: Revolution to Republic, with Clarence Wyatt ’78, because I knew that I needed to get into a class with him. And Introduction to Environmental Studies with Anne Lubbers has been a stroke of good luck. I felt that if I ever wanted to work in politics, it would behoove me to learn a little bit about something that my political party—the Democrats—considers important. Little did I know that Professor Lubbers is one of the most enthusiastic instructors at this school. Even though I didn’t intend for this to be a “last class” for me, it has been great.
Emily Gallt ’09
Lexington, Ky.
Major: government
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