Logan Lintvedt ’21
Logan Lintvedt ’21 had long given thought to the idea of one day becoming a teacher.
But until he arrived at Saint John’s University, the Delano (Minnesota) High School graduate says he wasn’t entirely sure that was the profession he wanted to enter.
He credits his time in Collegeville – and specifically an interaction with one of his professors – for helping him realize his true calling.
“It was always a thought I had in the back of my head, but there was this idea that maybe I should look at a career where the pay scale was a little higher,” said Lintvedt, an elementary education major who is also a member of the Johnnies tennis team.
“But after I got here and started taking classes, I began to realize this was the route I wanted to take. One of my professors – Allison Spenader – talked to me about how much we need more educators, especially at the younger grade levels. The system is overtaxed and we’re not able to do as much as we need to do in order to make sure that all kids are able to thrive.
“That really hit home and inspired me to want to do my part.”
Lintvedt is now on his way to doing just that. He is student-teaching at Oak Hill Elementary School in nearby St. Cloud this semester.
Then, after graduating this May, he will spend a year abroad in Uganda as a member of the Benedictine Volunteer Corps - a position that will give him additional hands-on teaching experience.
After that, he plans to pursue a full-time teaching career.
“I don’t know if I’d be doing that were it not for my time at Saint John’s,” he said. “Being here has really helped crystalize what it is I want to be doing. That sense of giving back and being part of a community is something they really stress here.
“The people I’ve met at Saint John’s are going to be my friends for the rest of my life. And I don’t think the opportunities I’ve gotten – especially something like the Benedictive Volunteer Corps – would have happened had I gone anywhere else.”
But he said his Saint John’s experience might not have been possible were it not for scholarships.
“Originally, I didn’t know if I’d be able to make it work,” said Lintvedt, who receives the Hal and Mary Duffy Scholarship, as well as a Dean’s Scholarship.
“Private colleges sometimes have this stigma of being really expensive. But when I got back my scholarship and financial aid information, I was shocked at how affordable it actually was. I’m really grateful to everyone who helped make that happen. I’m so glad it all worked out the way it did.”
So are those he has gotten to know during his time on campus,
“Logan is just an outstanding person,” said Jack Bowe, his head tennis coach. “Both in the classroom and on the court.”
Lintvedt said such sentiments are definitely reciprocal.
“I’ve gotten to know so many great people at Saint John’s - my professors and classmates, my tennis teammates and coaches,” he said. “I never imagined I’d be at a place where your professors care about you as much as they do here.
“Everyone wants to see you find what it is you want to do and be successful at it.”
[You can support students like Logan with a gift to the Saint John's Student Fund here: https://www.givecampus.com/7wpvdo]