As Rockhurst seniors prepare for life beyond graduation, they're making decisions about their futures and how to make a difference in the world. Meet a few recent graduates and find out what's on their minds:

Summor Edwards

Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

Major: Accounting, minor in finance

Plans: Begin career as an auditor at Deloitte and Touche, and enter the Rockhurst MBA program this fall.

Top three goals in life:
1. To put God first in all I do.
2. To become a CPA and make partner in an accounting firm.
3. To be a strong influence for my family and make a difference by giving back.

Making a difference: “As an accountant, I would like to be ethically concerned to make sure that I am acting in the best interest of society as a whole. I would also love to help out my community in whatever way I can — especially the neighborhood where I grew up.”

Katie Wells

Hometown: Oklahoma City, Okla.

Major: Economics, psychology

Plans: I have applied to join the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

Top three goals in life:
1. Have a family.
2. Be successful.
3. Be a good person.

Making a difference: “I am loud, so I will voice my opinion and change things for the better.”

Joe Nguyen

Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.

Major: Chemistry

Plans: Enter the Alumni Service Corps in July and teach on a volunteer basis for one year at Saint Louis University High School before entering medical school.

Top three goals in life:
1. To become a doctor.
2. To be a successful husband and father.
3. To travel to every continent in the world.

On my mind: Our country's relations with foreign countries; providing adequate health care to all citizens; fixing our public school system here in Kansas City.

Andrew Doole

Hometown: Napier, New Zealand

Major: Business Management

Plans: Enter Rockhurst MBA program in the fall.

Top three goals in life:
1. Complete my MBA.
2. Own my own business.
3. Raise a family in my native country, New Zealand.

Ideal job: Some form of entrepreneurship in property management or the import-export sector.

Rebecca Wimbish

Hometown: St. Charles, Mo.

Major: Biology and Spanish

Plans: Enter medical school at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (formerly University of Health Sciences) this fall.

Top three goals in life:
1. Create a service-based position for myself and encourage others in the health care field to do the same.
2. Have a family.
3. Continue doing international service work.

Making a difference: “I would like to provide quality health care to those who cannot afford it or those who might have a language barrier that would keep them from receiving health care.”

Gabe Javier

Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.

Major: Communication, English

Plans: Enter the master of education in educational administration program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor this fall.

Top three goals in life:
1. Continue making meaningful connections with people, not only for personal gains, but as a vehicle for learning more about myself.
2. To be successful enough and financially stable enough to support my family.
3. Travel the world.

Making a difference: “I think my experience and passion for nonprofit organizations will lead me to help nonprofits in some way.”

Cory Lee Atkins

Hometown: Independence, Mo.

Major: English and Theology

Plans: Enter law school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City this fall.

Top three goals in life:
1. Give more than I take.
2. To have a strong family.
3. To be a good Catholic.

Making a difference: “As I get older I would like to become more involved in leadership on a local and state level. America needs more leaders who completely grasp the full consequences of their actions.”

Perla Fernández

Hometown: Born in Anahuac, Chihuahua, Mexico; lives in Overland Park, Kan.

Major: Global Studies, French, Spanish

Plans: Enter master's program this fall in Latin American studies at either George Washington University or Georgetown.

Top three goals in life:
1. Be happy with whatever I choose to make of myself.
2. Make a difference in the world around me.
3. Inspire others to work hard to achieve their dreams.

Making a difference: “I would like to be an example to other minority and Latino students so they may strive to achieve their goals and obtain a higher education.”

Ramiro C. Montemayor III

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas

Major: Biology and pre-physical therapy

Plans: Enter the new Rockhurst doctor of physical therapy program.

Top three goals in life:
1. Graduating from the doctor of physical therapy program.
2. Taking care of my family.
3. Finding a career I will be satisfied with.

Ideal job: “My ideal job would be having my own practice for people who need physical therapy. It makes me feel great helping someone in need.”

Emily Bussen

Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.

Major: Mathematics, economics

Plans: I hope to join the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

Top three goals in life:
1. Have a family.
2. Have a positive outlook on life.
3. Succeed in what I choose to do.

Making a difference: “I consider myself to be a logical person, so my contribution to society will be my rational way of thinking.”

Kari Dwyer

Hometown: Overland Park, Kan.

Major: Psychology and Pre-MBA

Plans: Enter the Rockhurst MBA program and begin career with Wells Fargo Financial.

Top three goals in life:
1. Do everything to the best of my ability.
2. Have a family.
3. Enjoy most, if not all, of what I do.

On my mind: Humanity and safety of our troops and civilians across the world; protection from terrorism; quality of life for the less fortunate.