Page 17 - Priorities #10 1999-July

at the San Francisco Children’s Zoo, volunteer at the Monteverde Biological Preserve in Costa Rico and tutor children in English, math and social studies. After a trip to Europe and Costa Rico, Elaine wants to teach high school biology.
Dora Arredondo
“I experienced incredible professors, great classes and wonderful internships at Santa Clara University,” enthusedDoraArredondo. “Oneprofessorofferedto readmyessaysforothercourses. MyItalian professor is taking a group of us to Italy this summer to study Romance History and Culture.”
Dora graduated last year with a major in Political Science and a minor in Anthropology and Culture. During her three years at SCU, she completed three internships. Shefirstworkedinapublicdefender’s office. Next, Dora taught special education students inJuvenileHallinSantaClaraCounty. Another internship with Peninsula Conflict Resolution in San Mateo gave Dora experience in landlord/tenant cases,negotiationandmediation. WhenDora completed her degree, she taught at the Bridge Program at the Priory as well as at Juvenile Hall. When she arrives back from Italy, Dora will attend California Western Law School in San Diego.
Caitlin Kane
Caitlin Kane traveled throughout Australia and drove across the country twice during her undergraduate days at Scripps College in Claremont, CA. TheEastCoastluredherbackinJuneaftershe graduatedwithamajorinGovernment. Hersenior thesis was on “The Failure of the Republican Party to Attract the Emerging Hispanic Electorate.”
“My experiences at the Priory created a solid foundationforme,”Caitlinremembered. “Iwould tell a Priory student today to enjoy his or her time becauseitfliesbyinablink. Ifeellikeitwasonly yesterday that I was graduating from the Priory.”
Maura Ambron
Living in California and experiencing “ the great variety of cultures and ethnicities in this big state” led Maura to major in Cultural Anthropology at
University of Colorado. She earned her bachelor’s degree there in May and is now back in the Bay Area with plans to acquire some work experience in the business world.
Corporate life will be quite a change. Last summer, Maura joined several classmates and a professor on a primate research project in Panama, where the spiders were hand-sized and the mud was sometimes waist- deep.
“I love primate studies and seeing them in the wild was an awesome experience. On a trip like that, you also learn a lot about yourself ... how good you feel that you can get through a very challenging experience,” she said. (Some of the students left the project and returned home, according to Maura’s father). On another anthropology trip, she spent time with the Kuna Indians in the Sanblas Islands.
The coming year will be a time to try out business life and see where it leads, she said.
Other new college graduates among the first women Priory alumni include Alexandra David and Lina Sonderstrup. Alexandra completed her bachelor’s degree at Claremont-McKennainMay. Linareceivedher undergraduate degree from Reed College in Oregon. Neithercouldbereachedforaninterview. ClaudiaChow also could not be reached.
Several of the first female graduates are continuing their education or are planning their next step in life while meetingfamilyobligations. KatherineCalvachegraduated from community college this spring and has been accepted forfurtherstudiesatafour-yearinstitution. CarrieImmel is working and studying for her nursing degree.
Diana Klob
Lina Sonderstrup
Sara Schmidt
Elaine Middleman
Alexandra David
Carrie Immel
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