The Collegian

Issue date: 11/11/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Michael Bruer

If you thought you were a culturally diverse and actively involved student on campus, you have yet to meet Kris McNamara. Second-year McNamara is a pre-nursing major at Saint Mary's College, as well as a participant in the Lasallian Community. Her amiable personality and kindness to others sets her apart. She is involved with numerous clubs, including Hermanas Unidas, she is the co-chair, Asian Pacific American Student Association (APASA) and the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). She also has worked as an Admissions Volunteer and an Orientation Leader for the incoming 2012 class.

Born and raised in New Mexico, McNamara knew she wanted to attend Saint Mary's College after visiting the school in her junior year. She came on a trip with a friend and left with admiration for the school. McNamara knew Saint Mary's was the place to be, and continues to enjoy her time here because the school is a small, close-knit community. "The environment, because I came from a small high school, and I like the communal feeling you get here," she said. "Nursing is a special major on campus, there is a limited number of us and we are treated well, getting special attention from our teachers," she added.

Upon finishing her senior year of high school, McNamara became interested in an organization known as Foclare. Foclare focuses on peace, unity, and love for all people, and is specifically designed for spiritual formation. After discussion with her parents, and encouragement from her aunt, Kris decided to take a year to live in Florence, Italy. She then arrived back in the U.S. and looked at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon as well as Saint Mary's.

McNamara was chosen for the Lasallian Spotlight due to her representation of two of the Lasallian Core Principles: Respect for all persons and Inclusive Community.

She made the comment that these two principles go hand in hand, and that in order to be inclusive you have to have respect for all people.

As far as entering Lasallian Community is concerned, McNamara said, "It is a good experience, but it is really up to the taste of a person. I would say it is important to enjoy doing community service if you want to be in Lasallian Community."

In the future, McNamara seeks to attend Samuel Merritt College in Oakland for her degree in Nursing. She is most interested in studying pediatrics, but other possibilities are appealing to Kris as well.

She has expressed interest in joining the Peace Corps, or possibly getting herself involved with another Foclare project. This would entail a trip to Cameroon in Africa to work as a volunteer at a hospital there.

McNamara also has knack for languages. She is fluent in Italian, English and Spanish, but also hopes to learn several more.

McNamara is not hard to find as she is involved in numerous clubs. She will be happy to discuss the Lasallian Community or Saint Mary's College.

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