Portraits of Ripon, 300 W Seward St, Ripon, WI (2026)

04/28/2022

"With skateboarding I was able to go out and do something I enjoyed with my friends, and I was really good at it. It was hard to stop skateboarding when coming to school at Ripon. I had a lot of potential to grow as a skateboarder if football and college did not happen.

"Being from Las Vegas there is a big difference is going from a big city to a really small town, but the people here are really welcoming for the most part.

"I've found the most challenging part of skateboarding is going back for a trick after a day of not being able to get it the day before. Being able to continue where you left off the day before was something that you had to be motivated to do.

"The reason I fell in love with skateboarding is definitely my older brother. He skateboarded at the time as I was growing up, and it was my way of bonding and spending valuable time with him. When he got recognized around Vegas for his talent, it motivated me to do better every time I went skateboarding at the nearest park."

Keon McNair
Class of 2024
Las Vegas, Nevada

04/01/2022

“Home Away from Home is a Ripon College program that links international students with host parents in Ripon. It was restarted in 2008, and my wife, Christal, and I were among the first group of host parents to sign up. The students live on campus and we become surrogate parents. Since 2008, we have hosted seven young women, usually two at a time, from Nepal, Burma, China and Nigeria.

“The students stick with the same host family all four years at Ripon, so we really get to know them and they become part of our family. COVID limited our contacts, but typically we would take the girls out to supper about twice a month. We would take them shopping, to movies, and to museums and events. I think the most important thing we offer is emotional support. If they need a ‘parent’ to talk to, if they are in an activity or event at the College, or if they just need a quiet place away from the campus, we can be there for them.

“When they leave Ripon, most of them stay in touch with us. Two of them who went on to graduate school in the U.S. have stayed in close touch, and they still call us their ‘second family.’ Our own two daughters, who have moved away from Ripon, kid us that, as empty-nesters, we keep ‘collecting daughters.’

“The students get homesick. A few of the young women we’ve hosted were away from their homes for two or three years while they were here. Christal and I have included them in Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners, we’ve taken them on trips over breaks, and our home is open to them any time. We hope that has helped a little bit to ease their homesickness.

“Each time we ‘adopt’ a new student, we write to her parents to introduce ourselves. And the parents have always told us how grateful they are that their daughter has a caring family nearby. We understand that. One of our daughters, Robin, spent a semester in Cairo, Egypt. Through friends, we made contact with an Egyptian family. They met Robin at the airport, helped her get settled at the university, and stayed in touch with her while she was there. It is hard to describe how much better that made us feel. And it feels very good to pay it forward to other parents.

“Of course, the best part about being host parents is getting to know these young women who come from very different cultures and places. We have dear friends among our past and present international ‘daughters’ — and their parents. We have gotten to know and care for other international students at Ripon College — they often arrived at our door in a bunch. And what we have gained from the experience far, far outweighs the time and effort we put into it. It has been immensely rewarding and a whole lot of fun.”

David Sakrison
Adjunct Instructor of Business Management
Ripon, Wisconsin

Pictured are David and Christal Sakrison with Sneha Thapa ’12 at her graduation. Sneha came to Ripon from Katmandu, Nepal.

03/10/2022

“Being a strength coach combines my love of sports and learning about the human body. I started lifting weights in high school, and I haven’t stopped since. In college, I majored in kinesiology and started to get experience helping others train their bodies. I decided to turn it into a career.

“One of my previous jobs before Ripon was as an assistant strength coach at the University of Vermont. After being there for five years, I decided it was time to move back to Wisconsin to be closer to my home and family. I took a job as the head strength coach at Lawrence University. In my third year there, the pandemic hit, and my position was removed as a part of budget cuts. I couldn't believe that something I had put so much time and energy into was taken away so suddenly. I began looking for other jobs, but there were not a lot of job openings at that time. I was unsure of my future and considered that I might need to shift my career path. Fortunately, later that summer the job at Ripon opened up, and I now work at the rival of my old school!

“My favorite part of this job is building relationships with the student-athletes, helping them realize their potential and seeing them have success.
Being a strength coach has given me the opportunity to work with a lot of different people from different parts of the country and the world. I've learned something new everywhere I've been. I also think going through adversity has made me a better coach. It's not easy while you're going through it, but tough times can give you clarity on what you truly want and what kind of person you want to be during and after that.

“There is so much momentum building around this athletic department and school. Every day, Willmore Center is filled with positive energy. We just won four conference championships. How awesome is that?

“My advice to anyone who wants to be a strength coach (or any job for that matter) is to find someone who has a position similar to the one you want and is willing to mentor you and help you gain experience. Everyone needs a coach! Always work hard and never stop learning.”

Brandon Zemke
Strength and Conditioning Coach

02/17/2022

“I definitely really liked the small town feel in Ripon. I wanted something that wasn't a big school because I feel that would overwhelm me. I also like how you get to really know your professors, which is super nice. They are very caring and understanding and want you to do your best academically, which was something that I was looking for. I wanted smaller classes to connect with my peers more, as well.

“My mom, Michelle Kasuboski Dietzler ’97, came to Ripon College. She said the experience was something she really enjoyed, but that really didn’t force me to come here. My parents wanted me to come to a place where I felt comfortable and wanted me to succeed — to be successful in the future, as well.

“My other choice to go to college was Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. When I was choosing, I saw that Mequon was like in the middle of nowhere, and there wasn't any way to get around. I like how everything around Ripon is within walking distance and I don't have to rely on paying for transportation.

“I want to be a teacher, which played a heavy role in where I wanted to go to college. My high school teachers had an impact on me and inspired me to become a teacher. I want to have the same impact on my students that my teachers had on me. The education program here was very reasonable. I could get it done in four years, which is what I want. As soon as you declare a major you can start taking those courses right away. I really liked that versus other schools where you start taking classes for your major in your sophomore or junior year.

“Definitely something that stands out is the community aspect that Ripon College provides, even though COVID forced us to be slightly more isolated. What really made me feel more involved is joining a sorority. Becoming a member of Alpha Delta Pi has had a big impact on me. The relationships that I have made so far and have started forming with all the women are great, and everybody is amazing. It makes me feel more connected, and having that extra support system at hand is super-duper nice.”

Emma Dietzler
Class of 2025
Major: Elementary Education
Minor: Psychology
Hometown: Muskego, Wisconsin

02/10/2022

“My older brother Kaipos helped recruit me to Ripon for football. He didn't force me to choose Ripon, because I had other options. I've been in Kaipos’ shadow for the longest time. We were always on the same teams growing up, but I feel like following him to Ripon made it easier for me to be so far away from home. Actually having someone on campus that knew me and that I actually know and could spend some time with instead of going to a huge school where I might not know anybody … that has been helpful.

“I’m still my own person, however. That was the reason I joined Phi Kappa Pi — so that I would have other people surrounding me and to make me my own person instead of following Kaipo around everywhere on campus. I know he went independent, but I feel I just fit in here with the fraternity better. One of the main reasons I joined the fraternity was to do my own thing instead of doing what's right or wrong or someone else, I wanted to do something for myself.

“I know home is very far, but I feel like Ripon was the best place for me to get an education.hat was one of the main reasons I came here, also to play football, as well, for the College. My parents are far away, but they try and make it out to as many games as they can. Last season they came out to 4 of the 9 games we had, so it wasn't too bad. Even when we had spring season, my dad came out to my first college football game.

“It is different that my parents can't see everything I do everyday and the stuff I have success in, like football and all that, but I Facetime them all of the time to keep them updated with my daily life. And I get text messages from both mom and dad after games telling me how well I did or what I did poorly. After every game, if my parents aren't here, I'm getting a phone call from one or both of them.

“Follow your dreams, not the dreams of anyone else. Be your own person, and things will work out best for you.”

Kapena Magsayo
Class of 2024
Major: Sports Management
Hometown: Chandler, Arizona

02/04/2022

“Being an extrovert and outgoing kid from San Diego, California, I was a little nervous about coming to a small-town, private liberal arts school in the Midwest. On my visit to Ripon College during the polar vortex in 2019, I could not see 10 feet in front of me. I was definitely not loving the weather that I was experiencing.

“But on that visit, when going to have lunch, I noticed everyone’s bags were left on the stairs or in the main lobby below the Commons. Being from California, I was taught growing up to always have my belongings with me, and if I left them unattended they would be gone in a matter of seconds.

“When walking around and meeting new people in every building I walked into, I got the sense that everyone on campus is very welcoming to every student no matter their major or interests. From the professors to coaches and even students, everyone is a family here on campus. This is what sold me on Ripon College, as I was going to be looking for my new home for the next four years of my life.

“This semester, I will be the facilitator of Portraits of Ripon for the College, and I'm excited to meet new people and share your stories. If you believe you have a story worth sharing or you know someone who does, please message this account or me directly. Thank you.”

Parker Campana
Class of 2023
Major: Communication
Hometown: San Diego, California

12/17/2021

“I had a lot of transitioning throughout my childhood. I was born in the United States. When I was 5, I went to Mexico and was there for five years in a different lifestyle and got used to it. Then I came back to the United States and had to switch again. It’s very different. I grew up here with my brother, alone, without my parents. I matured at a young age. I’ve been trying to move forward and find my purpose in life.

“Life varies between the two countries. The social cues are totally different. In Mexico, you can be more outspoken in a way. Here, you get shut down for certain things right away — you can be seen as weird. It was that struggle to find that spot of people I want to be with. I was kind of a lone wolf as a kid. I realized I had to grow up at 13 or 14.

“I was actually a good kid — never rebelled against my brother. I was good in school. You would think it would be the opposite, but I felt that weight on me. My parents sent me back so I could study, so I could make it through in life, have a better life, and support them. I had this job, set in the notion that I had to actually study.

“I’d love to go back and visit. I want to stay here and work because finding something in Mexico is very difficult. Even with a degree, it’s not easy acquiring a job. The reason they sent me here was because they thought I’d be able to do something here. Wages in Mexico are very bad. What they earn monthly is what we make in a week here. They wanted me to have a better life. I don’t see myself going back for a while, but I do want to support my family in any way I can while I am here.

“I’m proud of sticking through college. When I was a freshman, I was in a very bad state — so close to dropping out. I don’t know what I’d do with my life right now if I had. I went from being nothing to being the vice president of two clubs and joining Theta Chi. I’m proud that I grew from that past to my new self.”

Richard Contreras
Class of 2023
Majors: Spanish and Sociology
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

12/09/2021

“After graduation, my plan was to enter the workforce. My plan wasn’t much different than what ended up happening, it’s just the timeline got rearranged because of COVID-19. I had planned to start looking for jobs after spring break and then COVID hit. I had to do all of my schoolwork from home, move everything back and focus on my seminar paper for senior sem. I was taking 20 credits during my senior year so it was stressful, but I was still holding onto hope to enter the job force quickly. I was applying for jobs from April to July. I became a Door Dash driver just to get money. I got a job at USA Today as a law clerk, and that is what I do today.

“If COVID didn’t happen, I probably would have gotten an in-person position as a paralegal or law clerk. No one was hiring, at least in my area. I wanted to work in the legal field so I was lucky to find what I found. It's not what I wanted to do, but I don't know what I wanted to do after graduation. It was something to do for work, and that was my goal. I’m not where I’d thought I’d be when I was a first-semester senior. I want to continue my growth as this pandemic hopefully ends.

“Every senior in my class had a different situation because of COVID. I felt I was lucky that I had a strong family structure so I had a support system to help me until I could get back on two feet.

“In the future, I will want to expand on the role I’m currently in and climb the corporate ladder, but I’m also hoping to go to law school before I'm 27. My goal is to start in the fall of 2023, and I’m trying to save up money and study.

“Don’t give up, no matter how hard it gets. Keep trying, keep getting back up no matter how many times life gets you. Keep riding the bull until it knocks you.”

Forrest Grade
Class of 2020
Major: Philosophy
Minor: Anthropology
Hometown: Appleton, Wisconsin

12/02/2021

“The pandemic was hard for me. Everyone discredits how much harder school got, and then my dad died at the beginning of 2021 when everyone thought things would get better. Throughout the whole thing, I’ve had to look at the positives out of it, despite it being an unfortunate situation. I had a lot of personal growth because of it.

“Everyone says you find yourself in college, and I didn't feel that way at first, almost losing myself. I was so focused on success. Him dying made me realize I needed to get my priorities in order. Music and art have always been really important in my life, as was my dad who loved art and was a musician. When I was growing up, he had a recording studio in our basement, so I've always been surrounded by music. I’ve been able to focus on it a lot more, I took my first art class since high school, and have been listening to a lot more music again.

“My dad’s death made me grow up really quickly, too. My parents are divorced, and I’m the next of kin. I had a ‘stepmom,’ but they were never married so I had to take care of a lot of the legal documents. I had to sign his cremation certificate. At the time, I wasn’t even 21 yet. I couldn’t buy alcohol or rent a car, but I was signing this legal document. I really had to look at how I would come out of it, rather than looking at how sad it was. Especially during the pandemic, everyone was getting kicked while they were down, so we have to look for the positives.

“It’s almost been a year. It's crazy how death alters your perception of time. It feels like things are moving so much faster nowadays. Over the past year, I realized how much my parents influenced me as a person. An interesting thing I learned is that you can learn things about them through other people after they’re gone, and so I’m still learning about my dad after he’s gone.

“Let yourself feel it. It sucks and everyone experiences their own personal tragedies, but you can’t let that alter how you live through your own. On top of that, don’t postpone your life because of it. As much as you want things to stop, they don’t, and in a way, that helps you heal.”

Becky Rossen
Class of 2022
Majors: Business and Anthropology
Minor: Sociology
Hometown: Elgin, Illinois

11/25/2021

“I was diagnosed with Lupus earlier in 2021.

“I started having symptoms in 2020. When it comes to Lupus, it takes a long time to diagnose — could be other diseases. This happened during COVID, so it was hard to see a doctor because my symptoms were not an emergency. Once I finally received a diagnosis, it was comforting but scary. We could finally take care of it. I did so many doctor visits, procedures, blood drawn, etc. It was a lot, especially with school on top of it. It was scary going through all these things, because I was all alone, because of the pandemic. No one could go to these appointments with me. I felt isolated for a long time because everyone around me was healthy, and I wasn’t. I was 20, and I wasn’t healthy. I will have this disease for the rest of my life and It is a lot to deal with.

“There’s no cure for Lupus, but by taking care of yourself and taking medication, you can avoid flare ups. This year I’ve been really good about taking my medication, eating well, working out. Before Lupus, I was very much on the run. I’m still like that. So when I crash, I crash hard, so I try to level out my schedule so I don’t do that to myself.”

“Luckily I was fortunate to have a great group of friends and family to support me with this process. When my symptoms are bad, they support me. They know that when I'm tired, I can only do so much. They support me with everything they can and I am grateful for them.”

“If you notice symptoms, extreme tiredness, feeling sick, go check in with yourself. It could be something serious. It is okay to seek help. Do what you need to do for yourself and your health.”

Alicia Contreras
Class of 2022
Major: Politics and Government
Minor: National Security
Hometown: Janesville, Wisconsin

11/18/2021

“I like the students here at Ripon. It seems like there are more of them, and we’ve definitely been busier as time has gone on. My coworker, Angel, would read books because there was so much downtime. Every year, I feel like we get busier and busier. We would get excited when we break 200 people; lately it’s been 300. There’s a Starbucks on every corner, in your face, everywhere, so it’s popular with students. That’s why I think it’s busier. The students have been running on this coffee, and we keep them going.

“It was hard not seeing them for eight months during the pandemic. I needed structure, and there was nothing to look forward to. We are back now, and I’m proud of how fast we get people in and out. I know you guys have to wait five to 10 minutes, but I feel like we have learned how to be efficient. For example, Angel, she stocks so well. When she was gone for a bit recently, I did not know what to do. She stocks so efficiently. There is a method to her madness, and I really realized that recently. She actually started the first coffee shop, it was her baby. I call her my ‘work wife.’

“I didn’t go to college, so I feel like I’m living my college experience through the Ripon students — without doing the actual work, of course. Sometimes I feel like a bartender when people come and tell me about their day. Sometimes people unload, and I’m totally OK giving a listening ear. I had no idea what I wanted at that age, which is what I really admire about these students. Each of them have at least some idea of what they want in life. They at least know the field of interest. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.

“My mom, when we were younger, always ingrained in us to have compassion and empathy. I always feel people’s emotions. It’s why I think so many people come to Starbucks. You come in, you’re tired. I want to try to make you feel better. If whipped cream and sprinkles make your day, I will do it. Whatever you need.”

Victoria Lynn Zair
Barista at We Proudly Serve Starbucks for 13 years
Hometown: Princeton, Wisconsin

11/11/2021

“I want to go to law school. It’s a really simple answer and it makes sense, but it stems from the growth I’ve had through college. I initially chose Ripon because I thought it was the right thing to do. My dad graduated from Ripon College in 1976 and played on the basketball team. He still currently holds the single-season record for field goals made. My cousin and brother graduated from Ripon, as well. I am incredibly proud to be a part of this legacy, but initially going to Ripon College placed these incredibly high expectations on myself. Growing independently from my family shows my growth here.

“The pandemic really changed my life. It removed all expectations of life. Prior to this, I felt that much of my life was being pulled by an invisible string controlled by outside forces. Always seeming to sway me in the right direction but at the cost of feeling passive on my life path. I went to college because it was where my family went; I played tennis because my brother did; and surely I would pursue a career in law because my father did. But this is not how I wanted to continue college, and I changed my focus. I am not as afraid of failure and am not as hesitant to stand up for myself.

“This inspires my pursuit of a career in law. Next year, I am hoping to go to law school. I don't know a specific area of law yet, but I want to stand up and do the right thing, represent the underrepresented, and give support to my community. I am applying to schools this month and will hear back early next year.

“I attribute much of my growth to Ripon, and I now understand the value of Ripon. A good friend of mine once said that Ripon is an ‘acquired taste.’ I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I think most people enter Ripon unsure of where their life will go for the next four years but know they are up for the challenge. Truly, Ripon College embodies the liberal arts experience and is what you make of it.”

Preston Wurtz
Class of 2022
Majors: Psychology and Politics and Government
Hometown: Ripon, Wisconsin

Portraits of Ripon

04/28/2022

04/01/2022

03/10/2022

02/17/2022

02/10/2022

02/04/2022

12/17/2021

12/09/2021

12/02/2021

11/25/2021

11/18/2021

11/11/2021

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