Senior Maya Wunschel said at first she wasn’t sure what her major would be, but she followed her heart and chose Elementary Education.
“I knew deep down that teaching was what I wanted to do,” she said. “I want to help children to not only succeed but to feel that love and have that support.”
Wunschel said she loves Saint Mary’s cohort model. “I’ve been with the same group of people since I started,” she said, adding her appreciation for the education faculty: “I love how inspiring all the faculty are with the program. They have so much insight and so many connections that help us succeed. They always support us.”
While completing her bachelor’s degree, Wunschel is simultaneously taking master’s courses through Saint Mary’s graduate program. Her plan is to switch her specialty to special education.
Following graduation this spring, she hopes to be a first-grade teacher while finishing her master’s, then she’d like to stay in the Midwest and eventually transition into K-2 special education.
Though she’s come to love the Midwest, Wunschel is a long way from home. A native of Washington State, her parents are from the Midwest, so she was familiar with the area.
And when she first visited the Saint Mary’s Campus, she said she felt right at home. “When we were visiting my grandma, I drove down and had a tour and was shocked by the beauty of it,” she said. “As soon as I stepped on campus, I loved it. I felt very at home. I loved the smaller feel, and everyone was so welcoming and kind.”
In addition to taking courses at the graduate and undergraduate level, she also works in admissions, is on the soccer team, tutors students, and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Education Club.
“I tell potential students that I am always surrounded by a good group — whether that’s my teammates, or others in admission, or our amazing faculty,” she said. “I feel so supported. I think the small class sizes drew me in, because teachers know me by name and are helping me succeed.”
She adds that attending a smaller school does not mean there isn’t anything to do, particularly because Winona is fun to explore. “(Saint Mary’s) does a great job putting on events, so you get that same big-school feel when everyone comes together — particularly at sporting events. I think you’d be surprised how much there is to do.”
