Journeys Magazine Fall 2025 | Alumni Making an Impact

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

The following story was featured in the fall 2025 edition of 91吃瓜's Journeys alumni magazine.听

91吃瓜 (CSM) alumni were honored for their professional excellence and service at the Alumni Achievement and Service Awards during homecoming weekend in September.听

Awards were given to six distinguished alumni, and the class of 1975 was honored with the Women of Wisdom medallion.听

鈥淭hese awards recognize outstanding alumni whose accomplishments reflect the mission and values of 91吃瓜 and serve as an inspiration to both current students and fellow alumni,鈥� said Nicole Gilmore Anderson 鈥�03, Alumni Council member.听

Honorees were chosen by awards committee members on the Alumni Council and three alumni.听

Alumni Achievement Award Honorees听

Christine Hill '04听

CEO and co-owner of AOI听

Bachelor of Science in Business听听

Hill credits CSM鈥攊ts mission, its belief in the power of women鈥檚 education and its support of students at any stage鈥攁s the catalyst for a life and career beyond what she ever imagined.听

Dr. Melissa Tobin Kimmerling '06, '07, '14听

Occupational therapy doctorate program director at Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD听

Bachelor of Arts in General Studies, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Education听

鈥淐SM was exactly what I needed, when I did not know that I needed it. CSM provided the female support that I was missing in my life after losing my mother. It showed me what being a strong woman looked like...The education I received there has led me to a career full of opportunity and growth. I learned about the impact and responsibility of service and have engaged in it throughout my career. The experiences I had at CSM shaped me into the person I am today.鈥澨�

Dr. Nicole Kolm-Valdivia '06听

Assistant dean of academic affairs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health, Omaha听

Bachelor of Science in Biology听

鈥淎ttending CSM was a transformative experience that shaped the core of who I am as a leader. I learned to speak with confidence, lead with purpose and challenge systems that uphold inequality. CSM fostered an environment that combined intellectual rigor with a deep commitment to social justice. Surrounded by peers and mentors who were bold, unapologetic and driven, I was empowered to see leadership as a responsibility to uplift others, especially those whose voices are often marginalized. That foundation made me a lifelong champion for equity and social change鈥攁nd it continues to influence how I teach, serve and lead today.鈥澨�

Megan Moslander, '08听

Vice president of donor engagement at CenterPointe, Lincoln, Neb.听

Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology and Human Services听

鈥淏ecause of my education at the CSM, I became the person I am today. One of the most pivotal moments of my life occurred during my freshman year, when I heard Sister Helen Prejean speak on campus about the abolition of the death penalty. I was incredibly moved by her passion for justice and her deep desire to make a difference鈥攊t lit a spark in me that continues to guide my work.鈥澨�

Samantha Marquez '11听

Physician assistant at the Department of Pediatrics at Sunset Health, San Luis, Ariz.听

Bachelor of Science in Biology听

鈥淐SM has left a lasting mark on my life, it is where I found my voice. CSM helped me to build on my confidence and know that I deserve to take up space and belong in whatever situation I work towards. CSM taught me that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to and that there is always a strong female support system there to help me.鈥澨�

Alumni Excellence in Service Award Honoree听

Andrea Saavedra Gonzalez '17, '18听

Occupational therapist in the cardiovascular intensive care unit and certified Spanish speaking brain injury specialist at Nebraska Medicine, Omaha听

Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences, Master of Occupational Therapy听

鈥淐SM听gave me more than an education; it gave me the confidence to believe in my own potential. At CSM, I found a supportive community that made me feel empowered. I realized that my identity鈥攎y culture, my family history and my journey - was not something to overcome, but something to celebrate and use as strength. CSM didn鈥檛 just prepare me to be an occupational therapist, it helped shape the kind of professional and woman I am today.鈥澨�

Also during the award ceremony, CSM honored the class of 1975 by presenting them with the Women of Wisdom medallion to recognize their 50-year milestone.