NW Missouri Times

Abby Ahrendt appreciates the lessons she learned and the memories she made through her coursework and campus involvement at Northwest Missouri State University. Ahrendt, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, graduated from the university in the spring, completing her degree in just three years.

Ahrendt decided to pursue her college education at Northwest after visiting for a campus tour and finding it to be a perfect size for her. With an interest in psychology, she immediately found a home in the behavioral sciences program and took advantage of coursework and profession-based learning opportunities with faculty, including Dr. Amy Barton, Elizabeth Dimmitt, Cris Jacobson, and Dr. Chase O’Gwin.

“It really felt like a place that I could feel like a home away from home,” Ahrendt said.

She was also involved in various activities on campus. As a member of Phi Mu sorority, she served on the Honor Council during her freshman year and then joined the executive board as honor chairwoman. She served as float head for Homecoming and homecoming head.

Outside of Phi Mu, she enhanced her skills as a peer wellness coach at the Wellness Center.

"The amount of good things I have to say about that internship and the people at Wellness Center – I just have an immense amount of gratitude for them,” Ahrendt said. “They are so great, and that was probably the highlight of my year.”

She will attend University of Missouri-Kansas City this fall to pursue her Master of Arts in counseling and psychology, hoping to become a licensed professional counselor.

Ahrendt says she leaves Northwest feeling supported and grateful.

“I visit friends at other schools, and they are thriving there, but anytime I do that, I'm like, ‘yep, this (Northwest) is the place for me.’ That just confirms it,” Ahrendt said.