Mayo Caring Hands2024-2025
Victor Solano (Team Captain & Volunteer 2024-2025, Volunteer 2023-2024)
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Graduation Year: 2025
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part: My favorite part of Caring Hands has been the fact that it has provided me an outlet throughout the week to do something outside of myself and grow connections with all types of people in such a small way. It has been so humbling and validating to see how much of a difference I can make in someone’s day just by having a simple conversation with them.
Grace Kinkeade (Team Captain & Volunteer 2024-2025, Volunteer 2023-2024)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2025
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part: I love to hear patient's stories and jokes, or make them smile with my own stories and jokes. It is so rewarding to be able to take patients' minds off of the stress of IVs, heart monitors, and surgeries, and to be entirely focused on their mental wellbeing with a simple hand massage and a conversation. I also love getting closer to the other Gusties that I might not have gotten to talk with as much!
Brandon Wilcek (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major:
Graduation Year: 2025
Health interest: Physician Assistant
Favorite part:
Arianna Bergeron (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2026
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part:
Megan Thomson (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2026
Health interest: Dental
Favorite part:
Emily Mills (Team Captain & Volunteer 2024-2025, Volunteer 2023-2024)
Major: Statistics
Graduation Year: 2026
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part: I've loved being part of Caring Hands this year, and one big aspect is that this program has allowed me to work as a team with other Gustavus students I may not have met otherwise. Giving a hand massage seems very simple, but patients really appreciate being able to relax and have someone to listen to whatever they want to talk about! All of the patients I've met have amazing stories to tell and different perspectives, so not only have I gained so much experience working in a hospital environment, but I've gotten so comfortable talking to new people and making connections!
Peyton Richardson ((Team Captain & Volunteer 2024-2025, Volunteer 2023-2024)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2025
Health interest: Physician Assistant
Favorite part:
Abby McCready ((Team Captain & Volunteer 2024-2025, Volunteer 2023-2024)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2025
Health interest: Physical Therapy
Favorite part: My favorite part of Caring Hands has been the fact that it has provided me an outlet throughout the week to do something outside of myself and grow connections with all types of people in such a small way. It has been so humbling and validating to see how much of a difference I can make in someone’s day just by having a simple conversation with them.
Zainab Syed (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2027
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part:
Ella Sontowski (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2026
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part:
Ava Kraemer (Team Captain & Volunteer 2023-2024, Volunteer 2022-2023)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2025
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part: “Caring Hands is a unique opportunity to gain patient care experiences while being able to provide comfort and a source of relaxation to those who need it most.”
Carter Henning (Team Captain & Volunteer 2023-2024, Volunteer 2022-2023)
Major: Biochemistry Molecular Biology and Chemistry
Graduation Year: 2025
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part: “My favorite part of the Caring Hands volunteer position is being able to positively impact people’s days who are going through a tough time. It’s a really good feeling to do something meaningful for other people and I love that Caring Hands gives me that opportunity every week.”
Jane Williams (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2026
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part:
Claire Brings (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2025
Health interest: Dentistry
Favorite part:
Ellie Ousley (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2027
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part:
Kaylee Cepress (Team Captain & Volunteer 2024-2025, Volunteer 2023-2024)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2025
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part: I enjoy giving back to the community I live in and meeting all sorts of people. I’ve heard a lot of stories that have already changed the way I view life. This program has throughly helped me grow and learn in many aspects of my life.
Brynn Johnson (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2026
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part:
Hadley Wartner (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2027
Health interest: Dentistry
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Logan Schmidt (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2026
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part:
Laura Murillo (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Chemistry
Graduation Year: 2027
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part:
Amelia Qualey (Team Captain & Volunteer 2024-2025, Team Captain & Volunteer 2023-2024, Volunteer Spring 2023)
Major: Chemistry
Graduation Year: 2025
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience as a Caring Hands volunteer. For me, the most rewarding component of this program has been connecting with patients and bringing them small moments of joy through meaningful conversations and gentle, non-therapeutic hand massages. Hospitals can be scary places for many folks, so having the opportunity to engage with patients and improve the patient care experience means the world to me."
Greta Dahlen (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2025
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part:
Dasha Shyroka (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2027
Health interest: Medicine
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Erika Lee (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2027
Health interest: Medicine
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Stella Anderson Moye (Volunteer 2024-2025)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: 2027
Health interest: Medicine
Favorite part:
Kimika Ishikawa-Temple (Volunteer Fall 2024)
Major: Biology
Graduation Year: Dec. 2024
Health interest: Dentistry
Favorite part: