Meet Your Peer Advisor:Loyola University Chicago

One of my favorite memories from my first year at Loyola is Welcome Week. It was during this time that I had the opportunity to meet new people, explore the city, and have some great experiences. It was during Welcome Week that I made all of my friends and got to know my roommate better. It was the perfect start to my freshman year and I will always remember—and be grateful for—the awesome time I had during Welcome Week.

Fun Fact:

My family keeps a chicken in our suburban backyard.

Name: Catherine Kauffmann

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Year: Sophomore

Favorite First-Year Memory:

In early December, The Silhouettes (for those of you who don't know, we are the super-awesome all-girls a cappella group on campus) traveled to Roscoe Village to sing carols for local businesses and their customers. This event was the first time I really felt that I was exactly where I was supposed to be - in a new, incredible city with some friends who were (and are) rather new and incredible themselves.

Fun Fact:

I'm a huge music fan, enjoying everything from Laura Marling to Dr. John, and I play the ukulele and guitar in my spare time.

Name: Heather Kita

Hometown: Oak Lawn, IL

Year: Sophomore

Favorite First-Year Memory:

My favorite memory from my first-year at LUC would have to be having the snow day of the century. On that Wednesday I went to Chem lab and found out that all our classes were going to be canceled from then on till Friday. So me and a few other friends took the shuttle to water tower campus and got our MORE cupcakes and then took the train home because of Lakeshore Drive being shut down. For the next day and a half all of campus got to enjoy the snow and the time off during the semester. During that time, everyone had the best time of their lives not having to go to classes, enjoying the snow, and even putting off homework for a few days. During those two days I was able to bond with so many friends and even built new friendships.

Fun Fact:

I am on the Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team here at Loyola. GO SIRENS :)

Name: Peter Kobak

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Year: Junior

Favorite First-Year Memory:

As dorky as this may sound, my favorite memory from my first year was staying up late at night to write papers for the Honors Seminar. I would lock myself in a room with my closest friends and we'd pound away at the sucker for anywhere from 5-8 hours until it was finished. It wasn't the most efficient way to complete the assignment, but at the end of the night we came away with a mutual exhaustion and slap-happy euphoria from staying up so late. And I passed the class, which is good.

Fun Fact:

Owls are the only birds that can see the color blue.

Name: Maureen Lauer

Hometown: Dobbs Ferry, NY

Year: Sophomore

Favorite First-Year Memory:

My favorite memory from freshman year involves taking advantage of going to school in Chicago. Because the Lincoln Park Zoo is a short ride away on the red line; it became a popular study break location. We could spend an hour there and forget about the papers and tests and just watch the animals play and have fun.

Fun Fact:

I rode a camel at the pyramids in Egypt.

Name: Emily Leitner

Hometown: Pekin, IL

Year: Senior

Favorite First-Year Memory:

My favorite memory from freshman year is literally spending hours at LSD eating dinner every night. My friends and I would slowly have multiple courses then chill and talk for a couple hours after we finished eating. I’m pretty sure like a quarter of my freshman year was spent in the dining halls and it was always hilarious with lots of great conversations.

Fun Fact:

I can fit my fist in my mouth. Completely useless talent? Yes. Will I demonstrate? No.

Name: Tiara Morgan

Hometown: Frankfort, IL

Year: Senior

Favorite First-Year Memory:

Bonding with the girls on floor by having dance parties in the rooms. Helped up learned more about each other's musical interest and have fun dancing like animals. This has become something that we have continued even now as seniors.

Fun Fact:

During my free time I LOVE watching the Cosby Show, even though I've seen every episode hundreds of times.

Name: Matt Risser

Hometown: Medina, Ohio

Year: Junior

Favorite First-Year Memory:

My favorite memory of my first year at LUC was my first visit and midnight snowing at the amazing Music Box Theater, a movie theater that had originally opened in 1929 and screens primarily independent and foreign films. Being a film enthusiast, it was great to see a movie in such a historic theater in the city, as well as hang out with new friends from school!

Fun Fact:

I love to ride my bike through Chicago. It is much more fun and sometimes faster than the CTA. I recommend it to all.

Name: Sara Snider

Hometown: Lakeville, MN

Year: Sophomore

Favorite First-Year Memory:

I loved attending all the free concerts and events at Millenium Park, exploring the city, and meeting amazing people!

Fun Fact:

I am left-handed.

Name: Joshua Stephani

Hometown: Manitowoc, WI

Year: Junior

Favorite First-Year Memory:

It is a tie between attending the Chinese New celebrations and attending a white sox game for the first time (although I am a Cubs fan).

Fun Fact:

I have participated in an archaeological dig for two weeks this last summer.

Name: Michelle Tysiak

Hometown: Plainfield, IL

Year: Junior

Favorite First-Year Memory:

I have to say that my fondest memory of my first year here was near the end of my first semester. The girls on my floor weren’t all that close with each other. We all knew each other, but we didn’t hang out that much. Nearing the end of the semester, we all started to use our lounge as a place to study, which started to make us talk more. We eventually started doing dinner in the dining hall a lot of the time as a floor. By the time finals week started, we were all out there together, studying and helping when we could. In a way we kept each other sane through the intense nights studying. The best memory though, was when one night we were pulling an all-nighter, which I would not recommend, and we decided to order a huge pizza. On our way back to our floor with the pizza, we ran into an RA and talked the way up. After we started chowing down on our pizza, that same RA came to our floor with two packs of Red Bull to assist us with our all-nighter. With winter break drawing near, none of us wanted to leave because we formed a bond we didn’t think we would necessarily have at that point.

Fun Fact:

I love to snowboard, any chance I get over the winter. Shaun White and Gretchen Bleilerbeing are my favorites.

Name: Alexa Vander Hye

Hometown: Matteson, IL

Year: Junior

Favorite First-Year Memory:

My favorite part of freshman year was exploring Chicago. At least once a month, my roommates and I would dedicate a weekend to doing something new around the city. Whether it was thrift shopping in a new part of town, finding free concerts, or going on a dinner cruise by Navy Pier, it was a great way to bond as well as take advantage of everything Chicago has to offer.

Fun Fact:

My middle name is Storm.

Name: Elizabeth Walton

Hometown: Davenport, IA

Year: Sophomore