What's Next for the Class of 2016?

Now that they've got their diplomas, members of the Knox College Class of 2016 are venturing out into the world, headed to new jobs, graduate school, and service opportunities such as the Peace Corps.

Here's a look at what some of Knox's newest graduates are doing next.

Ai Miller, a history major from Toledo, Ohio, is seeking a Ph.D. in history at the University of Minnesota.

"I would not have pursued the career path I am taking now without the support of the faculty here, especially (Bright Professor of American History) Catherine Denial," said Miller, who took Denial's Museums, Monuments, and Memory course during spring term. "Going to New York City with her and the rest of the Museums class was a great experience, because we were immersed in public art and history for a few days."

Hamad Alizada, an economics major from Denver, Colorado, is starting a job as a project engineer at RK Mechanical Inc. in Denver.

"Knox has helped me to approach things with an open mind," Alizada said. "In my work field, I'm going to be talking to a lot of different people who are from different backgrounds so you have to be able to communicate with them successfully, and I think Knox has definitely helped me in that aspect."

Sruthi Doniparthi, a biology major from St. Charles, Illinois, will attend graduate school at Rush University, where she'll study health systems management.

"Knox has been the biggest steppingstone for me," Doniparthi said. "I had a lot of exposure to things related to diversity. I'm a part of the International Club, and I was co-president for a couple of years. That helped me learn a lot about people, teamwork, a lot about myself, how to lead in the future."

Zane Carlson, a social science education major from Monmouth, Illinois, will be working for Beta Theta Pi fraternity as a leadership consultant.

"Knox has taught me tolerance, and I know it has taught a lot of other people tolerance and how to respect other people's personal interests and values," Carlson said. "This is crucial for my line of work and what I'm going to be doing."

Kati Stemple, an international relations major from Rockford, Illinois, is joining the Peace Corps and will serve as a community services volunteer in Morocco. When she first came to Knox, she already knew she was interested in the Peace Corps, and she participated in Knox's Peace Corps Preparatory Program.

"Knox is a really engaged and caring community, and people here really care about doing things for the world, and making the world a better place," Stemple said.

Catlin Watts, a Chicago, Illinois, resident who double-majored in international relations and Spanish, is joining City Year, an education-focused national service organization that is dedicated to helping students and schools succeed.

Watts, who hopes to attend graduate school after completing her City Year service, said that Knox "helped me to step out of my comfort zone and try to experience the world the way other people experience it. I think I'll be able to use that when I help the (City Year) students because all of the students are going to have different experiences, and I have to help each one of them."

Coltan Parker, a neuroscience major from Oswego, Illinois, will start a Ph.D. program in neuroscience at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

"The main thing that led me to want to go to grad school is a lot of my experience doing independent research and working alongside professors here on their own research projects," Parker said. "I was fortunate enough to be able to work with (psychology Professor) Heather Hoffmann, and her research projects were a first glimpse for me into what it is to be a researcher and what it is to be a professor, especially at a liberal arts college."

Jessica Robinson, a biology major from Carbondale, Illinois, is attending graduate school at the University of Michigan and pursuing a master's degree in conservation ecology.

"The support system from the professors (at Knox) was really influential to me—and from, actually, the students as well—encouraging me to apply to internships and get actual experience outside of the classroom, which I think is really crucial to feeling prepared after school," she said.

About 300 graduating seniors were awarded diplomas at Knox's Commencement exercises on June 5, 2016, where United States Senator Richard J. Durbin delivered the Commencement address. Find more about Commencement in words, photos, and video.