Meet our Newest Alumni:
Drake Class
of 2025
of 2025
Last May, Drake celebrated the achievements of its Class of 2025, awarding 1,230 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees at the University’s 158th commencement ceremonies. This milestone marked the culmination of years of dedication, but also the beginning of new journeys for a diverse and inspiring group of graduates. Here, we highlight seven exceptional members of the Class of 2025—one from each of Drake’s seven colleges and schools—whose journeys exemplify what it means to be a Bulldog.
Hear from the class of 2025 moments before they crossed the stage.
Each student shared their favorite campus memories, career aspirations, and unique experiences as a Drake student moments before crossing the stage on graduation day.
After completing her time as an undergraduate with a double major in Law, Politics, and Society and Secondary Teacher Education in 2022, Kayla went on to pursue her law degree at Drake. She remained incredibly involved on Drake’s campus, serving as Student Bar Association President, a member of the Drake Law School Board of Counselors, and the media editor for Drake Law Review. As a recent graduate, she has returned to Northeast Iowa to practice law with a focus on rural justice.
“Drake University and Drake Law School have such deep alumni relationships that truly set it apart from other schools. The Drake Law community is very strong. I truly could not be more proud to be a Bulldog.”
Kayla Hruska
College: Law School
Hometown: Cresco, Iowa
Avery Mertz
College: College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Kansas City, Missouri
While double majoring in Nursing and Health Sciences, Avery enjoyed four years on the Drake Women’s soccer team in the position of midfielder, starting in all 17 games as a senior. Her favorite memory at Drake was defeating Memphis, who was ranked 15th in the country at the time. Upon graduation, Avery returned to Kansas City to study for the NCLEX exam with aspirations of working as a pediatric or NICU nurse.
“What makes Drake special is its inclusive campus environment. Drake offers a wide range of activities and academic opportunities that cater to diverse interests and backgrounds. Drake also provides a prestigious level of education that is difficult to find elsewhere.”
Donovan went straight into a nine-to-five job after high school—originally, with no intention of pursuing a college education. When he learned of Bright College, that all changed. Thirteen years after high school, he began working toward his associate degree in Integrated Arts, Sciences, and Humanities. Having graduated in May 2025, he is now pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations at Drake while getting ingrained in the Des Moines music scene and aspiring toward a career in the entertainment industry.
“Drake has always been a very prestigious college that I never thought I would be able to attend. Adding the John Dee Bright program to Drake has changed the course of my life. The things I’ve learned and the people I have met have shaped me into a person that’s not afraid to chase my dreams.”
Donovan McCamey
College: John Dee Bright College
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
Catalina Samaniego
College: Arts and Sciences
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
Catalina’s impressive academic career included a double major in Economics and International Relations with minors in German and Cybersecurity. She remained heavily involved on campus and in the community as a resident assistant, president of the economics club, a volunteer for Central Iowa Shelter & Services, and through her role at the City of Des Moines Human and Civil Rights Commission. Upon graduation, she joined Global Financial Integrity in Washington, D.C. as a policy analyst while studying for the LSAT and applying to law schools with an emphasis on antitrust and cybersecurity law.
“What stands out most to me about Drake is its quiet focus on greatness. There’s a shared sense of respect on campus. Students genuinely care about one another, include each other, and speak up when something isn’t right. It’s a community where leadership often happens quietly but powerfully, and that’s something truly special.”
Bridgid double majored in Elementary Education and Spanish while maintaining involvement in the Drake women’s soccer club, the Drake Education Association, and Kappa Delta Pi, the education fraternity. Her favorite campus memories revolve around all that Relays week has to offer—from paint fights and street painting, to participating in the Road Races. At the time of graduation, Bridgid plans to apply for roles in Minnesota in English Language Learning or Spanish Immersion.
“Because of the many practicum experiences that I got through being in an urban area, I’ve gotten experience with so many different groups of students. This has been so beneficial for me because I now feel confident that I can handle just about anything in the classroom.”
Bridgid Miller
College: School of Education
Hometown: Hopkins, Minnesota
Trevor Stevens
College: Zimpleman College of Business
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
While majoring in Actuarial Science, Trevor was able to pursue both his career interests and his personal passions at Drake. His real-world experience included attending numerous professional events and landing summer internships, while serving as co-president of Gamma Iota Sigma, studying abroad in New Zealand, and playing in the wind symphony, marching band, Bulldog Brass, and the Tiberius Saxophone Quartet. After graduation, Trevor moved to Denver, Colorado to start his career as an actuarial senior analyst at The Cigna Group, where he interned the summer before his senior year.
“My favorite experience at Drake was going on a J-Term trip to New Zealand. It changed the way that I think about travel and about life. I’m much more comfortable with spontaneous experiences and operating without a plan than I was before going on the trip, and I made memories that will last a lifetime.”
While majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Marketing, Mel had the unique opportunity to be the voice of Drake Women’s Basketball, serving as the emcee for home games and hyping up the crowd—a role that she particularly cherished during the team’s Missouri Valley Conference Championship win in 2024. She also found time to work as a freelance show choir choreographer, an athletic marketing intern, and a student marketer for Red Bull—all experiences that have prepared her for her next chapter with the Buffalo Bills, where she landed a job as an event and experience associate.
“Drake has made me a go-getter and self-starter. I have met so many high-achieving people from all areas. People at Drake work hard and strive high; it makes it easy to stay encouraged when those around you are also accomplishing extraordinary things.”
Mel Dygert
College: School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Hometown: Johnston, Iowa