A Student Perspective: Keshawn Henning ’19

St. Norbert gives students the opportunity to experience the richness of college life, pursue their dreams and expand their knowledge of the world. Every quarter, the St. Norbert Fund profiles a Standout Student who is making the most of that opportunity.

Favorite place on campus
The reflection lounge in Mulva Library is one of my favorite places to go on campus. It’s a place where I can get away from all distractions in life and focus on myself and my studies. The best part about the reflection lounge is how it overlooks the St. Norbert arch, and every time I look out to the arch, I reflect back to freshman year when my peers and I walked through it to Main Hall, where we were welcomed. I think about that moment because it allows me to see how much I have changed in the past years, the positive influence St. Norbert has had on my character, and how grateful I am to have friends to share this journey. The reflection lounge is my foundation, and every time I enter, I know that I will be adding more memories and knowledge to this never-ending character I call myself.

Plans for the future
After completion of my bachelor’s degree in accounting, I plan on taking the CPA exam, with which I hope to pursue a career in either financial analysis or tax accounting.

What I’ll remember most about SNC
Friends, no doubt. When entering college, I never knew that I would meet such amazing friends that support, love and invest in me. I am blessed and thankful to have a home away from home because every moment I spend with my friends is a moment I cherish.  

What my scholarship means to me
My whole life I have watched my mother struggle trying to care for three kids by herself with a low-income job. The decisions she had to make for us and the stress that consumed her life were unbearable. I watched my mother slip into phases of depression all because she didn’t know what to do at times. As a kid, I never understood the sacrifices that my mother had to make in order to make us happy and I took that for granted.

As I got older, I started to understand the sacrifices my mother has made and all the hard work she has done so that I could grow up and have a successful life. Now that I am 21 years old, I cannot be more grateful to have such a smart, loving and giving mother such as her. She is the driving force to my education, and my scholarships allow me to make her the proudest mother in the world. For myself, my scholarships mean that the hard work is paying off, especially for my family who has supported me from day one. I cannot show enough gratitude to St. Norbert for the opportunity to better my future. Being a first-generation student comes with a lot of hope and ambition to not only graduate, but to become a more well-rounded individual to help my family and the community.