Ahna Novasio ’26 | Billings, Montana
Majors: Biology (Pre-Med), Biochemistry

Please tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Billings, Montana. I would describe myself as outgoing, determined, and creative. I find a lot of value in service and helping others, which is why I enjoy being involved in organizations such as Orientation. Some of my favorite hobbies are playing tennis, beading, listening to music, and hiking (when I am in Montana). I also have two cats who I adore named Napoleon and Rosebud.

How did you hear about Concordia and why did you choose to attend college here?

I heard about Concordia at a college fair that I went to in Billings. I chose to attend Concordia because I wanted to go to a small, private school so I could easily talk to professors and get to know my classmates. I also wanted to go to a school that had a good pre-medicine program. The other colleges I looked at were in Montana, and I decided it would be good to have a change and go to Concordia since I had lived in Billings most of my life.

What do you enjoy the most about the Fargo-Moorhead area?

I think the Fargo-Moorhead area was built to be a strong community. Through working on Orientation during the summer and being involved in Orientation previous years, I have learned that there are a variety of different organizations that work together and uplift each other to build a strong community that is welcoming and enjoyable to be a part of.

What campus activities are you involved in?

I am currently involved in and . In previous years, I was also involved in the , Student Government Association, and Alumni Relations.

What is the  and how can someone be involved?

Concordia Science Academy is a club that hosts science events for kids of all ages throughout the year. The events typically include a fun, interactive experiment directed by a Concordia student or the club advisor, Dr. Graeme Wyllie, that the kids can participate in. Driven by the slogan of the club that science is for everyone, the goal is to get kids in the Fargo-Moorhead area and beyond interested in science in a fun and accessible way.

What have been your favorite experiences as a STEM Scholar?

The STEM Discovery Scholarship program started when I was a freshman, so it’s been interesting to see the program grow over the years. I think being a STEM Scholar is a great opportunity to get to know and collaborate with students who have the same interests and goals as you.

What inspired you to apply to be the Orientation Chair?

I’ve been in Orientation for three years now. My first year I was an Orientation Leader, my second year I was on the Orientation Committee as the productions co-coordinator, and this year I have the honor of serving as the Orientation Chair. During my time on the committee, I had the opportunity to work closely with the Orientation Chair and gain a deeper understanding of the various components that contribute to the success of Orientation. This experience allowed me to gain a greater appreciation for the importance of all the roles and responsibilities of Orientation and inspired me to take on a different and larger role for Orientation.

What are your main responsibilities as the 2025 Orientation Chair?

I have had the privilege throughout the 2024-25 academic year and summer to work with my wonderful committee and our advisor, Sunet Rubalcava, to plan our biggest event, which is Fall Orientation. Sunet and I also helped organize parts of Mid-Year Orientation and Summer Orientation. Our goal for Orientation is to facilitate a smooth and easy transition into college for all the incoming students! The committee and I worked hard on putting together an amazing team full of enthusiastic and welcoming leaders that will help guide students into their first semester here at Concordia.

How would you describe Fall Orientation to an incoming student?

Fall Orientation is a three-day event for incoming students at Concordia designed to welcome students and ease their transition into college. The students are split into clubs of about 20 students that are led by two enthusiastic Orientation Leaders who serve as a resource and a guide for the students throughout the week. There are a variety of important and meaningful events that are designed to provide students with the information that they will need to move into their first semester as a Cobber.

What was your favorite part of Orientation as a first-year student?

I enjoyed Cobb Hobnob the most. This event is an opportunity for student leaders to showcase all the different clubs and organizations on campus. I was very involved in clubs in high school, so it was awesome to see that Concordia had a variety of opportunities for me to be involved. I also met a lot of great friends at this event that I am still friends with today!

What are you most looking forward to for this year’s Fall Orientation?

I am super stoked for the Welcome Show! The Welcome Show occurs on the first day of Orientation, and it is a very fun and exciting event that is designed to help calm the nerves of the incoming students and get them excited for the week. Everybody who is a part of the Welcome Show puts a lot of hard work into it, so it is also super cool to see all that hard work come to fruition.

What are the different Orientation leadership roles available to students, and what advice would you give to someone interested in being involved in Orientation next year?

If it is your first year being a part of Orientation, there are three different positions you can apply for: Orientation Leader (OL), First-Year Transition (FYT) Mentor, and Orientation Assistant (OA). The OLs and FYT Mentors are the students who lead the Orientation Clubs during Orientation. The FYT Mentors also continue to support students through their first semester as part of the FYT Labs. Orientation Assistants are the “backbone” of Orientation and are there to help the Orientation Team whenever needed. If you continue to enjoy being a part of Orientation, in your second or third year you can also apply to be an Orientation Committee Member or the Orientation Chair. The Orientation Committee helps plan Orientation and train the OLs, FYT Mentors, and OAs. The Orientation Chair leads the Orientation Committee and oversees the planning of all Orientation events.

How did you decide on your area of study?

When I was 11, I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, so I went through two and a half years of chemotherapy treatment. After the first nine months of treatment, I developed a disease called A-vascular necrosis as a side effect from the medicine that I was required to take. A-vascular necrosis is when there is a lack of blood flow in the bone, which causes bone tissue to die, typically at the ends of the bone, resulting in limited range of motion and chronic pain.

As a 12-year-old, I was very limited in the activities that I could do. I couldn’t run, walk long distances, tie my shoes, put socks on, or walk up certain stairs. I often relied on a wheelchair due to the lack of range of motion in my hips. I was a very active kid growing up, so this was difficult for me to go through and accept. Once I finished chemotherapy, I was finally able to get hip replacement surgery as a form of treatment, which allowed me to do all the activities that I couldn’t do before. My orthopedic surgeon changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. That experience inspired me to go into an area of study where I can hopefully do the same thing for others as he did for me.

Why did you decide to add the new biochemistry major?

I have always had an interest in chemistry, but I didn’t have the time to pursue a chemistry major. When I learned about the biochemistry major, I thought it would be a great opportunity to fulfill that interest.

In what ways do you think the new biochemistry major will benefit current and future Cobbers?

The new biochemistry major will allow students to develop a better understanding of how integral chemistry is to biology. For those pursuing related fields, it’s important to understand not only the biology but also the chemistry behind biological processes. This major is helpful for those pursuing medicine, research, and other health-related fields.

What do you like most about taking classes in the Integrated Science Center?

I like that ISC has a variety of different classroom styles, study rooms, and labs that you can use and take classes in, so every class is a different experience. I also appreciate the size and setup of the classrooms that allow you to easily ask your professor questions and participate in classroom conversations.

What has been your favorite class related to your major? What makes it your favorite?

I really enjoyed Anatomy and Physiology with Dr. Julie Rutherford. I liked this class because it involved in-depth learning in lecture and in lab. I also enjoyed how hands-on lab was and how easy it was to ask questions, which has inspired me to be a lab TA for this class in the fall.

 I’ve learned how essential leadership skills are in preparing for my future career.

How has Concordia prepared you for your future?

Concordia has prepared me for my future in a variety of ways. Most importantly, Concordia encouraged me to take on new opportunities such as becoming Orientation Chair, doing summer research, and serving as a class representative for Student Government. Through these experiences, I was encouraged to grow as a leader and as a person. While I am still growing and learning as a leader, I’ve learned how essential leadership skills are in preparing for my future career.

What are your postgrad goals?

My goal after graduation is to attend medical school. I am taking a gap year after graduating from Concordia so I can strengthen my application and gain additional experience.

What has made you feel at home here?

My friends, the staff, and professors here have made me feel at home. When people ask me why I’ve stayed at Concordia all these years, I always say the community. I love meeting and talking with new people, so it’s been amazing getting to know a wide variety of individuals across campus. I love knowing that when I walk down the hall in the ISC or when I walk from the ISC to Knutson there is almost always someone I know that I can say hi to. That sense of connection is important to me.

What advice would you give to an out-of-state student considering Concordia?

Try to get involved as soon as you can because that is the best way to meet new students and find your place in the community here. There will be other students who are from out of the state as well, so try to make connections with those students. Moving to a new state can be scary, but it also provides you with the opportunity to make your time at Concordia and the Fargo-Moorhead area your own!

Anything else you’d like to share?

For the incoming Cobbers, if you are feeling scared or anxious coming here, know that there are a lot of people, including students, staff, and faculty, who are here to support you and help you be successful. One of the most important life lessons I’ve learned is to never be afraid to ask questions!

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^{Published July 2025}