By: Piper Crabtree
First-year honors students gain access to many materials and resources. In the Honors Program, they will receive specialized classes, be academically challenged, obtain early registration, and so many more unique opportunities. But behind the scenes, St. Norbert College provides more than an academic advantage to its honors students. Bergstrom Hall, home to first-year honors students, is a place where students can build community together as they grow stronger intellectually and socially.
Overlooking the Fox River, Bergstrom Hall was built in 1966 and was originally called Dorm 3. Later, it was dedicated to Gertrude S. Bergstrom in 1973, as she had donated nearly 3 million dollars towards the college’s major endowment fund and maintenance support towards other buildings on campus. Today, Bergstrom Hall is a co-ed residence hall that houses all first-year honors students.
Bergstrom, while small, is amazing for first-year students. The hall itself is designed for academic and social excellence. On each floor of the building is an open lounge space, which is unique to Bergstrom. These spaces are perfect for collaboration of all kinds, such as floor meetings and social events. Students also have the advantage of living in an all-honors dorm on an academic basis. First-year honors students are consistently placed in the same core classes, such as Theology and Philosophy. By living in the same dorm as their classmates, they can easily ask follow-up questions, create a study group, get notes they may have missed, and so much more.
Bergstrom is home to many fun activities to get involved in. So far, residents have gotten together for a craft night, grilled cheese night, trivia contest, Halloween Party, and dessert night. These events help build the foundation for Bergstrom’s amazing sense of community that is thoroughly shared throughout the building. When asked about her favorite part of living in Bergstrom, Jordan Perry, a first-year representative on the Honors Student Advisory Board, says that “I’m constantly surrounded by friends and support! It’s truly become a home away from home for most of us.” Additionally, Paige Friske (‘29) shares that “…we all have respect for each other’s spaces and things,” making an ideal living space that is both fun to be a part of and demonstrates a high quality of life.
Lastly, St. Norbert College values the aspect of Communio. As a campus, students live out Communio by showing up for one another, building relationships on foundations of trust, and demonstrating radical hospitality. As a first-year honors student currently living in Bergstrom, I can attest that Bergstrom upholds these and other values at St. Norbert College. Only a few short months after moving in, I catch myself calling it home. From positive messages on doors, long-lasting friendships, playful shenanigans, and studying in the lounge spaces, I am so happy to call Bergstrom my home as I start off my four-year journey as a Green Knight.
