Emma Kelsey – Staff Writer
This week’s Gustie of the Week, Jenna Wyum is a Senior Public Accounting major with a Political Science minor. She is the Finance Director in the Student Senate, a member of the Chapel Choir, and holds several leadership positions in the Theta Xi Gamma sorority. She works as an accounting tutor for the E/M department and participates in other organizations like the Senior Class Legacy Committee, Accounting Club, and Order of Omega.
“All of these activities are super important to me because of the impact that they make on the student body and my own personal growth as a student at Gustavus. My involvements have offered immense opportunities to meet new people, both on and off campus, and helped me grow comfortable with being in leadership positions,” Wyum said.
Wyum shares that her favorite part of Gustavus is the opportunities that it offers and the people. “Through my involvement in a variety of campus events, I was able to meet many different people and develop new relationships… The experiences were not only helpful in my professional goals and personal growth, but I have made life-long friends at Gustavus as well. The community here is something that I have greatly appreciated and relied on these past four years, and I am so thankful for the impact that everyone that I’ve met here has made on my life,” Wyum said.
Lonnie Hosman, a professor in Economics and Management here at Gustavus, has known Wyum since the Spring semester of 2020 when she was in Hosman’s EM110 Financial Accounting course. She then went on and took two other classes with him over the years. Hosman is also Wyum’s advisor. He describes Wyum as an accomplished student who is very involved on campus with different activities. “She has accepted a job offer from the public accounting firm CLA – she has a bright future ahead of her!” Hosman stated.
Sophia Artley, another Senior, met Wyum on move-in day of their first year. They lived in the same section of Norelius and quickly became friends.
“As I was coming from out of state, Jenna immediately made Gustavus and Minnesota feel like home to me. Since then, we have traveled across the country together, created countless memories, and will be living together after graduation,” Artley said. She shares that Wyum is a hard worker, active in our campus community, a leader, and truly embodies what it means to be a Gustie.
“Her work in her sorority as president and philanthropy organizer has led to memorable events and money raised for a great organization…When I think of Jenna Wyum, I think of someone who is kind, compassionate, loyal, and smart. She is a great friend, community member, and peer. She treats those she knows and has yet to meet with understanding and empathy, and that draws people to her. She works hard in class, and her professors can attest to this, she succeeds,” Artley said.
Senior Abigail Ludwig has known Wyum since their Sophomore year; they served as Theta Xi Gamma Co-Presidents in the fall of 2022 as well as community service co-chairs within the chapter previous to that. Their friendship has grown through their leadership experiences together and mutual involvements.
“Jenna is very deserving of Gustie of the Week, due to her well-rounded presence on campus. Since we are part of Theta Xi Gamma together, I can speak to her positive effect on that organization. Besides her outstanding leadership skills as previous co-president of Theta Xi Gamma, she also received the 2022-2023 Sorority Member of the Year at the Greek Awards ceremony hosted by Order of Omega… She has done an outstanding job leading the Thetas as our senior philanthropy chair which led us to be recognized at Honors Day for the Paul Magnuson Student Leadership and Service Award at Gustavus Adolphus College,” Ludwig said.
Ludwig describes Wyum as reliable, thoughtful, and someone who has strong communication skills.
Lastly, Senior Paige Stepnick describes Wyum as “incredibly hard-working and dedicated to everything she puts her mind to. She is also a person that you can approach with any issue and she will be more than willing to help. Her warm presence has been a gift to this campus, making sure everyone is included.”