Andrea Clatterbuck
Class of 2006

Hometown: Omaha, NE

Majors: Economics, Spanish and Business Administration

Extracurricular activities: ASIA (Augustana Students: International and Study Abroad), Relay for Life, New Student Orientation, Students in Free Enterprise, Augustana Student Alumni Association, LSS Mentor and Alpha Beta Chi (Business Student Honor Society).

How and why did you choose your major?
I was a business administration major upon entering Augustana. When I registered for fall classes my freshman year, Dr. Eggleston (head of the Economics Department) helped me create my schedule. My schedule that semester strangely included many classes required for the economics major. I enjoyed all my econ. classes, so I declared an economics major at the midpoint of my freshman year. I am a Spanish major almost by default. I was enrolled in a full year of Spanish courses while studying in Spain so I accumulated nearly enough credits to cover the entire major.

What was your study abroad experience like?
Augustana is unique in the fact that many students spend some time abroad. There are many study abroad opportunities ranging from Spring Break trips to full academic year programs. I was fortunate enough to spend nine months in Spain during the '04-'05 school year. I traveled to England, Ireland, Portugal, the Czech Republic and various regions in Spain. My favorite part of the experience was learing to assimilate myself into another culture without sacrificing my homage to my own culture. This is an invaluable element of my liberal arts education that will serve as a guide my entire life.

What is the most unexpected thing you have done or experienced during your college career at Augustana?
During homecoming week of my sophomore year my friend Andrea (I am not speaking in the third person; her name is Andrea too!) and I were the hostesses of a dating game in the Commons. We decided it would be fun to wear flamboyant Hawaiian dresses. We looked foolish in front of the entire student body, but we didn't really care. It was a great time!

What is the best class you have taken at Augustana?
My favorite class at Augie would have to be Money, Banking, and Financial Institutions taught by Professor Nesiba. It was not the subject matter of the class, but instead the professor and classroom interactions that I enjoyed the most. Dr. Nesiba took an interactive role in our educational experience. He encouraged us to participate in the Augustana Research Symposium using the paper we wrote for his class. In close cooperation with Dr. Nesiba, I edited and edited my paper to prepare for the presentation. It was the most exciting educational experience I've had because I ended up changing my thesis many times as I accumulated more research. Education is not about finding evidence to support the ideas you already have, but instead to challenge you to evaluate and possibly modify your thoughts.

What is your favorite Augustana hang-out spot?
I know it sounds kinda dorky, but I really like hanging out in the library. It seems like everyone I know studies there! If I ever want to be social, I simply pack up a backpack (just to fit in with the library crowd) and act like I'm going there to study. I can usually distract enough people for about ten minutes each to pass time until the library closes.

What is your favorite meal in the Commons?
My favorite meal is bagel bar! I also like it when they have beets and peas at the salad bar. Desert is a standard for nearly every meal and my favorite desert is pecan pie. Don't tell my grandmother, but the pecan pie served in the Commons rivals hers!

Looking back on your senior year of high school, why did you choose Augustana?
My mom was on the post-prom donations committee my junior year of high school. As part of her duties, she solicited local colleges for donations and Augustana was one of them. Someone at Augie sent her some t-shirts and a note about how honored she was to help. This small gesture set Augustana apart in in my mother's eyes. As we began to look at colleges, my mother remembered the personalized note and suggested we visit Augie. Upon walking on to campus, my mother and I instantly knew that Augie would be a good fit for me. I have never doubted our initial judgment.

What is your favorite memory from your first year at Augie?
I have so many fond memories from freshman year that it is hard to select one particular memory. I loved the open atmosphere in the freshman dorms. I will never forget the day some guys turned part of their hallway into a giant slip-n-slide using soap from the bathroom. I was not able to participate because the PA's (Peer Advisors) quickly stopped the event, but it was sure fun to watch other people. It was good, "clean" fun!

What will you miss most about Augustana after graduation?
I will miss living in a community where people genuinely care about each other. I constantly find myself walking around campus with a grin on my face. My happiness is a tribute to the positive experiences I have had interacting with the professors, students and staff at Augustana.

Do you have any specific career goals or plans after graduation?
I would like to go to graduate school sometime in the near future, but I want to gain some experience in the "real world" before entering another academic institution. I have applied for a position to teach English in Japan through the JET program, but I'm still waiting to hear back from the Japanese Embassy. If I am not going to Japan I will seek employment in the international business field.