Kayleigh Karppinen left SMSU knowing the names of most of her classmates, something quite rare at other universities. “Our alumni network is truly an asset — I found my current position from another SMSU graduate,” she says. Kayleigh and her college friends have bonded over shared experiences and have strengthened their friendships over the years because of their SMSU connection.

Small classes at SMSU helped Andrea Kopfmann get to know her professors, which kept her accountable. She stayed busy with campus radio and TV, athletic events, and working in the Office of Admission. “I felt I could get to know anyone and try anything,” she says. That can-do spirit now serves her well in nonprofit development.

“I liked the fact that Marshall was far enough from my home in Minneapolis, but not too far,” says Michael Walker, who went on to earn an M.A. in counseling and became licensed as a school administrator. He credits his SMSU experiences with helping him develop the qualities necessary for his work in education.