Alumni Spotlights
Class president and 2019 graduate Daniel Olszewski was back at Carroll College this week.
Olszewski was accompanying Dr. Patrick Traynor, a professor of cybersecurity at the University of Florida, for his talk titled “Humans vs The Computer Interfaces: The Challenge of Separating Deepfakes/Bots from People.” After graduating from Carroll in 2019 with a triple major in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Data Science, Olszewski is now working towards his PhD in Computer Science at the University of Florida, where he works on cutting edge research to address modern security issues.
Born in Texas, Olszewski moved to Kalispell, Montana as a child with his family. His parents and older siblings all attended Carroll, and he says that “Carroll already felt like family” before he had even decided to attend. Olszewski describes his time at Carroll as integrative but challenging, saying that “The professors always pushed their students to do more, but they supported us every step of the way.” Olszewski was inspired by the faculty at Carroll long before he became a student, and that inspiration continued throughout his years here.
One of the faculty members who inspired Olszewski was Kim Shire, the Director of Theatrical production during Olszewski’s time at Carroll. While much of Olszewski’s time was spent studying and working toward his three majors, he found a creative outlet in Carroll’s theater program. His older brother was involved and encouraged him to audition. When he did, Olszewski found an open, kind, caring, and challenging environment. Being new to the theatrical world, Olszewski was given the opportunity to “find appreciation for an art I had no experience in.” Olszewski was involved in the theater program throughout his time at Carroll, stating that his role in the 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee was a particular highlight.
because it included improv and interaction with the audience. Olszewski was also involved in off campus theater productions at Helena’s Grandstreet Theatre.
In addition to his side-gig as an actor, Olszewski was also involved in mathematics competitions at Carroll. He fondly remembers competing in the International Mathematics Modeling Competition, which was an annual multi-day competition in which contestants were challenged to solve real-life mathematical problems. He recalls how the younger students would spend the week sleeping in their allotted classrooms, while the upperclassmen were wise enough to return home for a few hours every night.
It was through these extracurricular activities, as well as through academics, that Daniel Olszewski feels that Carroll prepared him for his future studies at the University of Florida. Olszewski says that he “can’t emphasize enough” how strong the math and computer science courses are at Carroll. He was able to build a strong background in mathematics, which became a solid foundation for his other fields of study. He also credits Carroll’s unique teaching strategy of preparing students to solve real world problems for his ability to succeed at the University of Florida, stating that “Carroll made me feel comfortable and confident that I had the necessary skills to go into grad-level classes.”
Olszewski is also dedicated to ensuring that as many Carroll students as possible are able to attend top graduate programs. “There is so much untapped talent and potential in Montana,” he says. A goal that both Olszewski and the University of Florida share is to get more students from Montana, and specifically from Carroll, into their graduate and PhD programs in the hopes that these students can later take their skills and experiences back to their communities.
For students who may be interested in pursuing this path, Olszewski has the following advice: “Take a math class. It really isn’t as daunting as it seems.” He also encourages students to learn basic computer skills, or to even try their hand at a computer science course. “The world is becoming computers,” Olszewski says, adding that there are many job opportunities in the sector, especially in cybersecurity.
Olszewski was excited to be back at Carroll for the 2024 Homecoming and Family Weekend. He was able to catch up with alumni at the Alumni and Parent tailgate and cheer on the Saints Football team. He also took the opportunity to speak with current students about post graduation options, encouraging them to seek out their full potential in their given fields.
To hear more from Daniel Olszewski - check out episode #88 - The Cutting Edge of the podcast Big Sky, Small World by the Carroll College Communications Center.
Megan Couture is a one-woman show making her mark on the Central Washington wine scene. But before she was a winery owner, she was a Saint, right here at Carroll College.
Carroll’s Catholic roots, small size, and liberal arts education drew Couture to Helena in 2001. In 2005, she graduated with a major in History and a minor in Theology. During her time at Carroll, Couture said that she appreciated the rigorous academic standards and the strong sense of community. “My best friends now are people that I met at Carroll,” she said. Couture credits her academic advisor, Father Sullivan, as one of the most influential people during her time here. His high standards and challenging classes were formative in her college years. Couture recalled, “I loved the way he taught; he’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met.” In addition to her academic commitment, Megan was involved in Campus Ministry and enjoyed hanging out at the General Merch on Last Chance Gulch off-campus.
After graduation, Megan Couture spent several months traveling in Europe before joining the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Philadelphia. After completing her service term, she worked as a Youth Minister for a parish in Enumclaw, Washington, before returning to Europe. Eventually, Megan returned to her hometown of Quincy, Washington, and worked at a café and coffee shop owned by her friends. During this time, Couture became friends with a local winemaker at a wine bar in town and began working there part-time.
After a few years of learning and leaning into her passion for winemaking, Couture was encouraged to start her own winery. Her grandfather gifted her her inheritance early so that she could start her business, saying that he would rather be here to watch her succeed at her dream.
In 2011, Errant Cellars launched with one barrel of wine, a red blend named Henry’s Red, in honor of her grandfather Daniel Henry, who helped Couture get started. Megan gradually grew her business, adding a few new wines each year, starting with reds and expanding to whites and then rosés. Couture sources all of her grapes locally, making her business a true Central Washington winery.
Like other agricultural businesses, winemaking follows a seasonal cycle. Fall is harvest season, when the grapes are harvested, crushed, and processed. The wine is then stored in barrels to age for 18 to 48 months for reds and 6 months for whites. Winter is the slow season with fewer tourists, and spring brings blending, tasting, and bottling. Summer is busy with tourists in the tasting room.
Couture says that while many people think her job is all fun and games, it’s actually a lot of intensive manual labor. While her husband, family, and friends step in to help during busy times, for the most part, Couture is a one-woman show. Her favorite part of the job is the actual making of the wine. “I’m more introverted,” said Couture. “I like the solitude of the cellar.” She explained that she loves checking the barrels, figuring out how to fix problems with the wine, and enjoys working in a career that combines both art and science.
Couture said that her time at Carroll helped drive her to the place in life where she is now. She explained that the liberal arts education allowed her to take a wide range of classes, giving her a diverse set of knowledge and experiences. Megan also credits Carroll’s motto, “Not for school but for life,” as being particularly influential. “When I was a student, I didn’t get it. I thought it was silly,” Couture laughed. “But now I understand.” Couture explained that she now realizes that Carroll’s motto is about continuing to seek, learn, and grow, as well as meeting new people and expanding one’s curiosity. “It sets a great foundation for being an adult,” she stated.
When asked what advice she would give to current students at Carroll, Megan said, “... take advantage of all the opportunities. Get out of your comfort zone and take classes in new subjects. Be open-minded, get involved, and take it all in!”
To listen to Megan’s interview on Big Sky, Small World - CLICK HERE
To learn more about Errant Cellars- CLICK HERE
Carroll grad Maggie Schmitz, Class of 2016, is saving lives and serving families as a bedside and transport NICU nurse at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana. The Level III NICU where Maggie works is one of the largest newborn care units in the state.
Originally from Great Falls, Montana, Maggie enrolled in Carroll’s nursing program in 2012. She had applied for nursing programs at several universities but chose Carroll due to the scholarships available and the stellar reputation of the program.
Maggie said that during her time at Carroll, she loved the size of the school and how supported she felt by the faculty and staff. She described them as “extra moms” who provided tough love and support throughout the program. Maggie noted that her advisor, Erin Kuntzweiler, was particularly influential during her time in the nursing department. Maggie recalled a service trip to Varanasi, India, that was organized by Kuntzweiler. While the trip was not specifically a nursing trip, it was healthcare-centered, and Maggie and the other attending students spent the trip completing wellness checks on children, giving out nutrient packs, attending to injuries, and performing checkups on pregnant women.
Outside of the nursing program and service trips, Maggie found several ways to be involved in the Carroll and greater Helena communities. She stated that she enjoyed living in a quiet town during college. “[Nursing] was an intense program,” she said, “so it was nice to have close hiking trails and easy study breaks. Helena made it easy to have a class/life balance.” Maggie was involved in CAMP (Carroll Adventure and Mountaineering Program), where she was able to take part in whitewater rafting adventures as well as mountain and rock wall climbing.
During her senior year at Carroll, Maggie completed her Senior Capstone project at Community Medical Center in Missoula, where she spent 120 hours in the Neonatal ICU. “I was able to be hired because of the [Senior Capstone] internship,” she said. Then, in December of 2016, Maggie started as a night shift nurse. After five years of full time night shift work, she moved to the day shift and joined the neonatal transport team.
The neonatal transport team is a team of two nurses who transport patients from western Montana and Idaho to the NICU at Community Medical Center. The team also transports patients from their hospital to Level IIII centers, like children’s hospitals, out of state. The team uses a mix of small airplanes, helicopters, and ambulances to transport their tiny patients.
When she is working at the hospital, Maggie takes care of up to three babies. These patients were born either sick or early, and they have never left the hospital. With the size of her hospital, Maggie’s days are varied and require advanced skills such as intubating and placing chest tubes and central lines. “At a larger hospital, they would have specific people for many of these roles,” Maggie explained. “But at Community, I can see and experience lots of things while still working in a high level of care.”
Maggie credits Carroll with giving her a holistic nursing education that allows her to provide her patients with well-rounded care. “You have to provide care for the whole family unit,” Maggie said. “You are taking care of the patient, but you also have to think of how you can help the parents. You want to make them feel like parents and feel involved when their child is sick.” Maggie’s advice to current students and recent graduates of her field is to try to get as much well-rounded experience as possible. “I did an internship with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies,” Maggie shared. “It was more the community side of care than medical. Things like that help you to be more well-rounded in your care of patients and their families.”
Maggie shared her love of Carroll’s Nursing Department by saying, “I could talk for years about how much I love and appreciate the faculty and what a great place it is for nursing students.” She later added, “It’s a great, well-rounded program, not just in Montana, but in the Northwest in general.” Maggie encourages students, regardless of their field of study, to take advantage of being on their own and to explore outside of their comfort zone. “College is a time where you are growing as a person,” Maggie explained. “And you will find the most growth outside of your comfort zone.”
To hear more from Maggie about her amazing work at Community Medical Center, check out the newest episode of Big Sky, Small World: https://rss.com/podcasts/big-sky-small-world/1783985/