Claire Dirnberger is a highly involved and passionate junior at Gustavus. While her college search was a stressful process of touring schools up until the winter of her senior year, she quickly fell in love with the small school atmosphere Gustavus had to offer.
“I was attracted to the many
organizations the school offered and the friendliness of the campus” and knew Gustavus offered her the tools to succeed.
“Claire is the life of the party and always has an optimistic attitude. I admire how driven and passionate she is about her life and future goals.” — Mallory Butchko
Claire felt nervous about the rigor of college courses and finding her path but knew at Gustavus she would be, “treated as a name and not a number.”
A Communications major, Claire fell in love with the department after taking her first course. She found the learning outcomes were applicable to multiple fields and customized her focus by adding a management minor for her future goal of working in human resources.
The past two summers, Claire has worked as a camp counselor at Green Lake Bible Camp, a job that requires constant energy and patience with middle schoolers.
Kali Malaski, a junior friend of Claires, notes Claire is never scared to get out of her comfort zone or push her campers out of theirs.
“One week for the talent show she brought her entire cabin up and sang Imagine Dragons ‘Believer’ and screamed ‘ah’ after each line. I still hear her doing that whenever I hear that song,” Malaski said.
On campus Claire is involved in multiple organizations and holds high titles. She is the Co-Chair of the Diversity Leadership Council, the Co-President of the Diversity Education Exploration Project, a tour guide in the admissions office and served on the Presidentś Council for Diversity Equity and Inclusion as the student chair of the Safety and Security committee.
Diversity Education Exploration Project (D.E.E.P.) has a special place in Claire’s heart. The organization plans spring break trips to discover and explore a location of cultural interest.
“She is always looking out for the best interest of everyone around her.” — Wendy Ericksen Bachman
In the past years, she has traveled to South Carolina and Georgia to learn about the Gullah Geechee culture, and New Orleans to discover the French, Spanish and Creole cultures. This organization is the definition of learning outside of the classroom.
Claire’s favorite memory from D.E.E.P. is sitting in a van for 6-12 hours talking and playing games with other students who were “then strangers and now friends.” Claire’s “work with and commitment to the D.E.E.P. program is beyond compare. She is always looking out for the best interest of everyone around her” Wendy Ericksen Bachman said.
Claire has not only been involved in important action on campus, she also takes time to make important and long lasting connections.
“When I need someone to talk to, I know that Tom Flunker and Janet Jennings always have an open door. When my day hasn’t been all that great, I know Wendy and Tracy will be waiting in Admissions with a smile to greet me. I would not be where I am without the support from CF´s, Advisers, Professors, the Diversity Center, the Counseling Center, Admissions, and my amazing friends” Claire said.
“One week for the talent show she brought her entire cabin up and sang Imagine Dragons ‘Believer’ and screamed ‘AH’ after each line. I still hear her doing that whenever I hear that song.” — Kali Malaski
Malaski met Claire as first-years living in the same section in co-ed and became good friends instantly. Claire is a “caring, smart, funny, helpful and generous person. She is always thinking of other people and stands up for what she believes in” Malaski said.
Praising the faculty and staff at Gustavus, she shared a personal mishap when she fell headfirst on the concrete, an apparent texting and eating a granola bar accident, and her advisor Patricia English found band-aids and Nurse Practitioner Nissa Fell patched her up.
I remember when, “she fell last year and really skinned up her knees, hands and face. She must have fallen hard. Claire handled it well and just kept on going” English said, adding how Claire is “meticulous, hard working and, actually, quite funny.”
Since she is only a junior, Claire still looks forward to many things at Gustavus, including meeting new people every week.
She is also, “determined to go to the swimming pool, try a gyro from the caf, attend swing club, eat at the lunch buffet, and experience all the events and activities Gustavus offers.”
The impact Claire has had on Gustavus is evident in her enthusiastic attitude and positive energy felt around campus. Mallory Butchko (‘19) met Claire at the Co-Ed Haunted house their first year where Butchko was dressed as a cat and Claire was a cavewoman.
“Claire is the life of the party and always has an optimistic attitude. I admire how driven and passionate she is about her life and future goals” Butchko said.
Gustavus has in return had its effect on Claire, especially in shaping her aspirations and guiding her in various opportunities for leadership and responsibilities.
Claire has had the opportunity to “work on a committee with the president of the college, plan campus-wide events, communicate and work directly with professionals, attend conferences and travel.”
The most important things Claire stresses of what she will always hold dear from her time at Gustavus are her closest friends, academic extracurriculars, and the Gustavus community.