Cavit Schempp
Graduation year: 2024
High school: Olympia High School
Hometown: Atlanta, Ill.
Majors: Accounting; geology
Activities: Udden Geology Club, Dungeons and Dragons Club
Internship: Arconic Inc. accounting internship
Post-grad plans: Graduate school for geology
Why Augustana?
I chose Augustana because of the enthusiasm that the professors and students had for what they were doing here. Students were enthusiastic about the research they had been able to do and the research they were currently pursuing, while professors were enthusiastic about teaching students about their particular field, either in geology or accounting.
Are you where you thought you'd be when you first came to campus?
When I started here in 2020, I was not sure what I would be able to achieve in four years, and where I sit now is farther than what I could have imagined.
When I started my geology courses, my professors would say that there is still so much to learn, but it seemed that everything had already been done. I could not have been more incorrect. Now I am doing all original research on something that was not previously understood, allowing to illuminate a new light on this mystery in Iowa geology.
Who helped you get to where you are now?
Family, friends and professors have all assisted me in reaching my current goals.
Family and friends have assisted me by helping to proofread papers, listening to my random nonsensical rants, and late-night study sessions. Professors have assisted in teaching and advising me through the last four years, leading me to where I am now.
These are all people I will continue to lean on far into my future career to bounce questions and ideas off of and to look for guidance along the way.
Peak experience?
It's hard to nail down just one peak experience. Time spent hammocking on the sunny days with friends, random late-night adventures to McDonald's or playing DnD with friends. All of these I would consider peak experiences and will be stories that I tell long into the future about my college experience.
What surprised you?
I am surprised by just how much I learned while here. I knew that I would advance my knowledge to a certain degree, but the knowledge that professors bestowed to me allowed me to open my mind to ideas I never could have thought of before and to ask questions that will continue to advance my knowledge and confusion.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss my community that I have built while here. The connections I have made with friends and professors that I have had the pleasure to meet will last beyond being here. Seeing them every day just won't be a part of my normal life as it has been for a fifth of my life.
Advice for the Class of 2028?
Just talk to people. You'll find that the people who go to Augustana all have their own skill sets and viewpoints that you can learn from. Whether they are skilled in writing papers or how to think out of the box, they will all be able to help in some aspect.
"In his four years at Augustana, Cavit has demonstrated outstanding organizational skills as he has pursued two non-overlapping majors while working part-time and being active in co-curricular activities like Udden Geology Club. He is enthusiastic, punctual and professional in all of his academic endeavors and his work in the Fryxell Geology Museum, and he is respectful of others in all of his social interactions. Cavit’s Senior Inquiry research reflects a great deal of initiative and effort, with long hours spent in the analytical labs. We appreciate Cavit’s leadership in our program, and we look forward to following his scholarly activities as he heads to geoscience graduate school in the fall!"