“I never thought I’d picture myself here,” said Aquinas College alumna and current Spartan Stores Sustainability Coordinator Katie Rogala. Rogala, a 2011 graduate with a double major in sustainable business and community leadership, utilized her experience at the College to broaden her outlook and skills, despite previous notions of continuing her education at a large university on the east side of the state. Now, after four years of volunteerism, community involvement, and leadership, Rogala looks back on her experience at Aquinas, the chance tour that decided her education, and the new position which has opened the doors to a future of positive change.

“My heart forever was set on MSU,” said Rogala. A Livonia, Mich. native, Rogala planned to attend the infamously large university until her mother encouraged her to tour a small private college in west Michigan. Immediately, she was taken with the availability of both sustainable business and community leadership at Aquinas College, two topics in which she had long held interest, yet never considered as career options.

“Both of them I was really passionate about,” she said. As Rogala committed to at least one year of study at Aquinas, she began classes in her prospective majors, and was convinced to stay by dedicated professors and a bustling community. In particular, Rogala sites former political science professor Bruce Nanzer, Ph.D., as inspiring her continued education in sustainability. “He made me believe in myself,” said Rogala, with his favorite adage, “You should never give up on trying to change the world.”

Amidst her study of two majors, Rogala took advantage of the many events, clubs, and organizations at Aquinas. “I just got so involved,” she said, and mentions that, unlike a large university, students have the ability to make their own individual mark on campus. “You have the opportunity to do things,” said Rogala.

During her four years at the College, Rogala participated in Student Senate, traveled to the Dominican Republic and Haiti on service learning trips, served as president of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and as an AQ student ambassador, founded Environmental and Political Interactive Change (EPIC), participated in Students Striving for Sustainability (S3), and much more. Rogala even auditioned for and was accepted to AQ’s improv troop, which allowed for further development of her confidence and public speaking skills. “It’s one of the best things I ever did that I never thought I would” she said. Through her involvement in these many organizations and travel to different areas of the world, Rogala realized the “potential and power of connections through Aquinas.”

“As a person, I changed a ton after I came to Aquinas,” said Rogala. Though she was “a very passionate person to begin with,” Rogala discovered the potential to take on leadership positions, such as her presidency of SIFE, to shape the lives of others. This interest in positive change led to a summer internship for Spartan Stores, where she was brought in as an expert to assist in the development of new sustainability initiatives. Now, after Spartan has made the commitment with Rogala to continue with sustainability, she is able to combine her many passions and skills for business, environment, and social change.

“[I am] blessed for being in a position where I am exposed to a little bit of everything,” she said. “The potential for change is so big.” Much like her experience at Aquinas, Rogala continues to take advantage of each opportunity to make connections and change in her community. “Given the right opportunity, you can just soar,” she said.

Though four years ago Rogala had never considered Aquinas, sustainable business or community leadership, she has since taken advantage of the community’s many opportunities for positive change. “You can take [something] away from everything,” said Rogala who, after participating in almost everything Aquinas had to offer, is truly a testament to new experiences and “the power of passion” in the workplace.