Our Campus Celebrity this week is none other than Kate Pifer! Kate, a senior majoring in Communications with a minor in Population/Public Health, has always had a wonderful presence on the JCU campus.
Kate said her favorite part about JCU is the community, “It’s such a special gift to be in a community with people who have similar goals and desires. I love that I can have meaningful conversations with priests, faculty, but especially students!” And she has had an amazing impact on that very community by becoming involved in many organizations on campus.
During her time at JCU, Kate has been extremely involved on and off campus. In addition to being in the Arrupe Scholars Program, she is a Tour Guide, Peer Health Advocate, and a Liturgical Minister. Kate also was a leader for the Manresa retreat and first year retreat, and she has been on the eight day silent retreat (which I would personally consider a huge accomplishment). She’s been on immersion trips to Guatemala and Honduras, and has attended conferences held by the Ignatian Solidarity Network.
As if all that involvement wasn’t awesome enough, Kate recently studied abroad for five months in South Africa during the spring of 2013. Kate took a leap of faith and ventured to a country where she knew no one.  During her time in South Africa, Kate worked at an after-school care center, traveled with only her backpack and a map as her guides, and met a lot of interesting new people. Kate says, “I will always be grateful for this time in South Africa because it was a lesson in taking risks for adventures that lead me out of my comfort zone!”
Her travels to South Africa have made a huge impact on her life, and she plans to continue to work internationally after graduation. Next year, she hopes to volunteer with a faith-based program that will allow her to work and travel internationally. On her future career goals, Kate says, “Ideally, I would love to be an executive director or development director for a non-profit that focuses on health aid and relief for in need populations of people. Right now, I’m up for anything that doesn’t trap me in an office all day! I also want to win a Nobel Peace Prize! Maybe one day…” Well, I think she’s headed down the right path to do just that!