Legacy in the Making: Shiann Hansen

Eighteen-year-old Shiann Hansen, a 2016 graduate of Gehlen Catholic High School in Alton, Iowa, shares some of her earliest memories of Mount Marty College (MMC). She was just a young girl when two of her older sisters, Lacy (Hansen) Rohlf and Margie (Hansen) Anderson, attended MMC, and she fondly remembers exploring the campus, staying with her sisters at school and getting a glimpse of college life at a much younger age than most of her friends. For Shiann, MMC was always a welcoming place.

“It was almost like I was always part of the MMC family,” she says. “I spent a lot of time growing up at MMC, and it’s very comforting to come back to the campus and feel a sense of coming home.”

From left: The Hansen sisters: Margie (Hansen) Anderson (MMC grad); Lacy (Hansen) Rohlf (MMC grad); Lacy's daughter, Lyla; Shiann Hansen (beginning MMC this fall); and Amber Hansen (University of South Dakota grad).

Shiann will be a freshman this fall at MMC, where she plans to double major in English and secondary education, with a minor in psychology. She also hopes to get involved in the theater department.

“I was very involved with the drama department at my high school, and I am looking forward to being able to continue to grow on stage at college,” Shiann says. Shiann’s sister Margie, who graduated in 2009, earned a double major in English and secondary education, with a minor in theater. Lacy, a 2006 grad, earned her B.A. in music and secondary education.

“Acting has always been a big part of my family,” Shiann adds.

So has MMC. And though it wasn’t a requirement that Shiann attend her sisters’ alma mater, Shiann says they were thrilled about her decision.

“I think my sisters were more excited than me to see my class schedule!” Shiann says. “They wanted to know what classes I was taking and what professors I would have, many of which were ones that they had themselves.”

Lacy and Margie encouraged Shiann to get involved with choir and theater, talked her through her schedule, told her how many credits they thought she could handle and what classes they thought she would like the most.

From left: Lyla, Lacy and Shiann at Shiann's high school graduation.

“It felt almost like they were going back to college with me,” Shiann says. “They are so excited for me and the experiences they know I am going to have.”

Although Lacy’s and Margie’s MMC experiences undoubtedly influenced Shiann’s decision to become a Lancer herself, the aspiring high school teacher is keenly aware of the college’s benefits beyond her family ties. The small size, she says, was a big draw for her, as was the faith-filled atmosphere that felt similar to her high school experience. The quality of the teaching department stood out as well.

“I have witnessed firsthand the type of teachers they produce being as my math teacher was an MMC graduate,” she says. “I know that MMC will teach me the value of education and help me become of one of the best teachers I can be.” 

With her courses chosen and her family’s support, Shiann is ready to hit the ground running this fall. MMC is by no means a new place for the third Hansen sister, but she knows it will be filled with new experiences.

“I am looking forward to meeting new people and the new experiences college will bring,” she says. I learned a lot about the school through my sisters’ eyes, and I am excited to discover the school on my own and what it offers for me.” 

To learn more about MMC’s education department, including the minor, major and graduate-level degree offerings, please click here.