by Ava Gross ’21
Growing up, Lawrence Hiquiana ’21 was all about tennis. It wasn’t until the early years of high school that he realized he had interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
“I remember I spent a good amount of time in high school working on this project that focused on making solar powered USB chargers for my school to sell.” Hiquiana recalled. “That was my first exposure to the scientific process and the scientific method.”
Upon beginning his college search, Hiquiana was unsure of what he wanted to major in, however, he knew that one day he wanted to attend medical school. As he progressed through high school, he discovered that he had a passion for physics. In his college search, Hiquiana was determined to find a school that gave him the opportunity to pursue both of his passions: tennis and physics.
Ultimately, Gustavus was the clear choice. “The tennis program has a legacy to say the least. It’s one of the best programs in the entire nation for development and results,” Hiquiana said. “The physics program is also one of the best in Minnesota and among all liberal arts schools in the country.”
During his time on the hill, Hiquiana has been involved in a multitude of activities and groups, some of those most notable of which include the the men’s tennis team, Gustie Greeters, Big Partner Little Partner, the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and the InnerCity Tennis volunteer program.
“I came to Gustavus for tennis and physics, but I didn’t stay just for those. This is going to sound really cliche, but the main reason I stayed was because of the people and the community here at Gustavus.” Hiquania remarked. “I have been blessed with so many people that have impacted my life greatly and have just been amazing, positive forces in my life.”
“When it comes down to it, the moments from my college career that I am going to remember the most are the late-night conversations, the time studying with friends where I didn’t get anything done but was able to just enjoy the time spent with them, and the 20-minute conversations that I had with my professors in between classes. Those are the moments that mean the most to me.”
The Downers Grove South High School (Illinois) alumnus will represent the Gustavus Class of 2021 as this year’s commencement class speaker on Thursday, May 13. Hiquiana will graduate from Gustavus with a major in physics.
After graduation, he will travel to New York to pursue a doctoral degree in electrical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
When asked if he had anything to say to his fellow classmates in the Class of 2021, Hiquiana responded by saying, “Whether you’re moving all the way to New York, moving to a different country, or staying in St. Peter, one of the most important things is finding your community and the people that align with you and your beliefs.”
“To the Class of 2021: Thank You,” he added. “I know all of us are going to do great things.”
The 2021 commencement ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 13 at 10:30 a.m. CDT. Each graduate will be provided two tickets to distribute to guests for in-person attendance at the ceremony on Hollingsworth Field. The event will be streamed live on the Gustavus commencement website, rebroadcast on Saturday, May 15 at 2 p.m. CDT so graduates can watch with their families, and archived for future viewing. Class of 2021 graduates and families are encouraged to use #Gusties21 to share in the excitement on social media. More information about event details and logistics is available online.
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved inside and no guests will be allowed due to COVID-19 safety guidelines.