Ryan Kammerzell
Graduation year: 2025
High school: Wheaton Warrenville South High School
Hometown: Wheaton, Ill.
Major: Psychology
Minor: Asian studies
Activities: Reading/Writing Center (RWC) peer tutor, varsity esports (SSBU), Gaming Club
Internship: Robert Young Mental Health Center
Post-grad plans: Teaching through the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program; grad school at Marquette University
Why Augustana?
I was looking for a school that was a bit smaller than state schools. I wanted to be more than just one of a hundred faces that a professor would overlook. Augie's campus also just seemed more welcoming. It also helped that the esports program recruited me.
Are you where you thought you'd be when you first came to campus?
I'm about where I expected I would be — just a year earlier than when I thought I'd get to this point. I had a clear vision and motivated myself to engage more with my interests in both psychology and Japanese language, and I ended up at this point earlier than expected.
Who helped you get to where you are now?
I owe my work ethic to my parents and my ability to know when to goof off to my siblings. I owe my renewed energy each morning to my friends and the time we have spent together. I also owe my ability to keep going when the going gets tough to my boyfriend, who has been with me for most of my academic journey to encourage me.
Peak experience?
My peak experience was presenting at the Iowa Writing Center Consortium, along with a team of other RWC tutors, about how skills from Dungeons & Dragons can be applied to tutoring practices. We drew a huge crowd, and I had tons of fun working with the rest of the team to make it happen!
What surprised you?
I'm surprised at how fast it went by. My three years here have been remarkable, and having my friends help me pass the time once I made it through my work for the day has made the time fly by.
How did you use your Augie Choice?
I used it to help pay for my J-term experience in Morocco! I loved the entire experience and would love to do it again.
What will you miss the most?
My friends made the whole Augie experience for me. I met them through the esports program during my first week on campus, and now I live with them off campus. My Augie experience truly would not have been the same without them.
Advice for the Class of 2029?
Use your Viking Bucks when you need a pick-me-up.
"A world traveler, smashing esports player and super writing tutor, Ryan works hard and plays hard. From coming to work on Halloween dressed as Link (from "Zelda") to leading a featured conference session that saw him DM-ing an original D&D scenario in front of 30 peers and professors, Ryan has been responsible for some of my favorite RWC moments ever. His kindness, wisdom and great sense of humor will serve him well as a future school psychologist."