For Monica Evers, the college experience was a little different from the typical student’s day-to-day.
While most students were busy navigating the demands of classes, homework and exams, Evers was doing all of that plus navigating daily responsibilities on her family’s dairy farm in Kellogg, Minn.
A full-time student during the day, she spent her evenings in the calf barn, dedicating countless hours tending to newborn calves.
Balancing her responsibilities on the farm with her academic goals wasn’t easy, but Evers found the support she needed from her professors to succeed.
“Every professor in the Math Department wants their students to succeed and shows it through kindness, compassion, and a love for what they do,” she said. “I would not have reached my goals without the support of the math and statistics professors and will be forever grateful for all they have done for me.”
In addition to the typical obstacles faced by many college students, Evers also experienced the unexpected loss of family members and friends due to mental health struggles.
“I experienced many life events while attending WSU, and I still succeeded with all of the support and resources I was provided,” she shared. “I am now a vocal advocate for mental health, and my heart goes out to everyone who has had similar experiences or struggles with mental health themselves.”
For Evers, the support from her Winona State community made all the difference in her success.
“I am proud to graduate from WSU because this university truly cares for the students,” said Evers. “The professors, students, and advisors are all amazing people, and I am very grateful for the lifelong friendships and connections that have been made here.”
After graduation, Evers plans to continue working on her family farm while taking on substitute teaching roles across Southeast Minnesota before securing a full-time teaching position.
Winona State Fall Commencement ceremonies will take place Friday, Dec. 13, on the Winona campus. For more information and a livestream of the ceremonies visit wsu.mn/commencement.
