Student Ambassador

Originally from Nigeria, Christabel Okoh, 19, resides in West St. Paul, Minnesota, and is a 2014 graduate of Mary and Martha Juniorate Convent in her homeland. A sophomore at Inver, Christabel is studying chemistry with plans to transfer to Metro State. Her career goal is to become a doctor or pharmacist.

She belongs to the Black Student Union (BSU) at Inver and enjoys dancing, making new friends and creating jewelry.

Three words that describe you as a college student: HARDWORKING. LESS SLEEP.

Why did you become a student ambassador?

"Because I want to be able to show students around the campus and also help them out."

12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Track events
2. Place you would most like to visit: Dubai and South Africa
3. The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Everyday I do exciting things.
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Your dreams don’t have an expiration date.”
5. Favorite all-time TV show: Empire
6. Second favorite all-time TV show: Gilmore Girls
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Be the CEO of a jewelry company
8. Most precious material possession: My toy
9. Dream occupation: Doctor or pharmacist
10. Person you would most like to meet: Tie: Chidinma, Beyoncé and Tiwa Savage
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: How to be creative
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: We don’t want to love one another like the way we love ourselves.

Student Ambassador

Larissa Marques, 18, hails from Recife, Brazil. A 2015 graduate of Professor Arnaldo Carneiro Leão, Larissa resides in Rosemount, Minnesota. She’s a freshman at Inver Hills majoring in engineering with plans to add a second major in international business.

After Inver, Larissa is looking at transferring to Minnesota State Mankato or the University of St. Thomas. Her goals are centered on opening a Mathnasium franchise in her home country. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, reading, dancing and playing piano.

Three words that describe you as a college student: HARDWORKING. ORGANIZED. RESPONSIBLE.

Why did you become a student ambassador?

“I have always liked helping people and I can do that as a student ambassador.”

12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Volleyball
2. Place you would most like to visit: Ranch Neverland in California
3. The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: When I came to the U.S. for the first time as exchange student
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: "Never stop trying."
5. Favorite all-time TV show: The Vampire Diaries
6. Favorite all-time movie: Moonwalker
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Change people’s lives in Bangladesh
8. Most precious material possession: Michael Jackson Bad 25 box set
9. Dream occupation: Open a Mathnasium math learning center in Brazil
10. Person you would most like to meet: Michael Jackson
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Drawing
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Health issues

Student Ambassador

Lokho Kotile, 18, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, is Woodbury High School graduate. A sophomore at Inver Hills, Lokho is earning her Associate of Arts (A.A.). She belongs to the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and the Black Student Union (BSU).

Lokho’s transfer plans are undetermined, but her career goal is certain and simple: She wants to be her own boss. She loves photography, a hobby she has turned into her own business.

Three words that describe you as a college student: DETERMINED. CURIOUS. EXCITED.

Why did you become a student ambassador?

“I enjoyed the school atmosphere and wanted to have a job that fit with my student schedule.”

12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Boxing
2. Place you would most like to visit: Tokyo, Japan
3. The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Having an internship in Chicago
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: "Just do it"
5. Favorite all-time TV show: The Office
6. Favorite all-time movie: The Pursuit of Happiness
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: My dreams
8. Most precious material possession: My camera
9. Dream occupation: Photographer
10. Person you would most like to meet: Walt Disney
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Videography
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Empathy

Student Ambassador

Matt Elsenheimer, 19, calls Eagan, Minnesota, home. Matt graduated from Eagan High School, Class of 2016. He’s a sophomore at Inver Hills earning his A.S. in Education Foundations. He belongs to TRIO Student Support Services and is a member of the Atheist Club.

After Inver, Matt plans to transfer to Minnesota State Mankato and double major in special education and education technology. He loves walking in the woods, reading books, volunteering and watching Netflix.

Three words that describe you as a college student: DETERMINED. PROCRASTINATOR. BUSY.

Why did you become a student ambassador?

"I wanted to become a student ambassador because of how involved you are with the campus. And I also loved the fact that I am directly impacting future and current students."

12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Running
2. Place you would most like to visit:Madrid, Spain
3. The most exciting thing you've ever done: Zip-lined and landed in a lake
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: "Do or do not; there is no try."
5. Favorite all-time TV show: Supernatural
6. Favorite all-time movie: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Run the Boston Marathon
8. Most precious material possession: Necklace given to me by a mentor/friend
9. Dream occupation: Educational technology and special education teacher
10. Person you would most like to meet: Michelle Obama
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Code
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Climate change

Student Ambassador

Sommer Meyer, 19, is originally from Eagan, Minnesota. Sommer graduated from Eagan High School in 2016. She’s a sophomore at Inver Hills and very active on campus. She serves as president of Phi Theta Kappa, president of Engineering Club, and president of NAMI. She belongs to the LGBT+ Club and is a member of Student Senate.

Sommer is triple majoring, earning her A.A., her A.S. in Chemistry and A.S. in Engineering Fundamentals. After Inver, she hopes to transfer to Northwestern University and complete a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and minor in German. Her career goals are centered on becoming a chemical engineer working with solar panels and other alternative energies sources. In her free time, Sommer enjoys knitting, reading comic books, reading, watching Netflix and volunteering at the Animal Humane Society.

Three words that describe you as a college student: STUDIOUS. INVOLVED. MOTIVATED.

Why did you become a student ambassador?

"I love the campus and I wanted to be involved any way I can. I also want to help other students become more involved and I thought becoming a student ambassador would be a great way to do so."

12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Quidditch
2. Place you would most like to visit: Germany
3. The most exciting thing you've ever done: Went on an amusement park road trip
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: "Just keep swimming"
5. Favorite all-time TV show: The X-Files
6. Favorite all-time movie: The Lord of the Rings
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Help create a more sustainable world
8. Most precious material possession: Does my cat count?
9. Dream occupation: Chemical engineer
10. Person you would most like to meet: Wonder Woman
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: How to read faster (so I can finish more books!)
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Being unable to accept our differences

Student Ambassador

Carlos Enrique Matos Vasquez, 23, is originally from Caracas, Venezuela. Carlos resides in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and is a Minnetonka High School graduate, Class of 2012.

A sophomore at Inver Hills majoring in EMS, Carlos works for Student Life in the Cultural Center and serves as a Spanish tutor. He has AHA CPR certification, EMT certification and NREMT certification.

In his free time, Carlos enjoys light reading, cooking, videogames, watching movies and TV, exercising and playing soccer, talking and hanging out with friends.

After working and saving money as a paramedic or an emergency medical technician EMT) in an E.R, he would like to transfer to a four-year school and earn his bachelor’s degree on his way to becoming a physician assistant or going to medical school.

Three words that describe you as a college student: OPTIMISTIC. DETERMINED. HONEST.

Why did you become a student ambassador?

"I was always looking for a position within Student Life since it seemed like a fun job, and one of the best ways to get involved at Inver."

12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Soccer
2. Place you would most like to visit: Excelsior Bay, Minnesota
3. The most exciting thing you've ever done: Go for an exchange program and become a foreign exchange student
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: "Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened."
5. Favorite all-time TV show: Tough one, it’s between House M.D and Scrubs.
6. Favorite all-time movie: The Dark Knight
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Become a doctor and work in Doctors without Borders.
8. Most precious material possession: An old 30GB Black iPod video with my nickname on the back; it has been with me for at least 10 years and still works!
9. Dream occupation: : Physician.
10. Person you would most like to meet: If it could be anyone alive or dead, Nelson Mandela, but if it was someone who is alive, the pope.
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Could be cooking, or medical-related skills in order to save lives.
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Alienation between people when we are more connected than ever, also lack of empathy for those in need.

Student Ambassador

Nick Altendorfer, 19, grew up in New Prague, Minnesota. Nick graduated from New Prague High School in 2016. He's a sophomore at Inver Hills earning his A.A. degree and has a strong interest in marketing.

Nick joined TRIO Student Support Services and is active in the Black Student Union. After Inver, he plans to transfer to Augsburg College. His goal is to earn a masters degree in Marketing. In his free time, he participates in marching band, pep band and jazz band.

Three words that describe you as a college student: HARD-WORKING. KINDHEARTED. FUNNY.

Why did you become a student ambassador?

"I want to make a difference at the college."

12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Hockey
2. Place you would most like to visit: All 50 states
3. The most exciting thing you've ever done: Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Trip
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: TBD
5. Favorite all-time TV show: Madea
6. Favorite all-time movie:
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Stability
8. Most precious material possession: My grandmother’s ruby ring
9. Dream occupation: CEO
10. Person you would most like to meet: Beyoncé
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Anything labeled as a life skill
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Laziness

Student Ambassador

Noah Larson, 20, grew up in Rosemount, Minnesota. Noah graduated from Rosemount High School, Class of 2015. He’s a sophomore at Inver Hills earning his A.A. and certificates in Marketing & Sales.

Noah serves as president of LGBT+ Club, vice president of Student Senate, vice president of Math Club and treasurer of Anime Club. He works as a math and geology tutor, and is a member of NAMI.

After Inver, Noah plans to transfer to the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota. He is looking forward to a rewarding career that makes him feel happy with a preference for an occupation related to geophysics or natural disasters.

When he's not working, Noah is at school studying and reading geology textbooks for fun. He likes to read in his free time, but mostly enjoys participating in Student Life activities to meet new people and create connections.

"It's the most rewarding feeling when you feel like you’re making a different on campus or in general," he said.

Three words that describe you as a college student: DRIVEN. SUPPORTIVE. WELCOMING.

Why did you become a student ambassador?

"I saw some acquaintances giving camps tours and my immediate reaction was, 'I could do that!' After talking to Nikki [Bottko], I was an offered a student ambassador position here on campus."

12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: I really enjoy watching gymnastics
2. Place you would most like to visit: Japan
3. The most exciting thing you've ever done: Coming to campus every day can be exciting as you'll be the youngest you'll ever be in that moment.
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: "Be your own inspiration."
5. Favorite all-time TV show: Survivor
6. Favorite all-time movie: She’s the Man
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Self-actualization
8. Most precious material possession: My cross necklace
9. Dream occupation: Celebrity
10. Person you would most like to meet: Claire Elise Boucher
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Art
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: The way we treat our Earth