Sterling College: When did you graduate from Sterling College?
Catherine Leake: 2003
SC: What courses of study did you Major(s)/Minor(s) in?
Leake: Elementary Education and K-12 Special Education
SC: What activities were you involved in while on campus?
Leake: I was an RA for two years, participated in FCA, Stephen Ministries, volunteered some with Habitat for Humanity and did work-study at Sterling Grade School.
SC: What residence hall did you live in?
Leake: McCreery
SC: What are you doing now?
Leake: After teaching in Colorado Springs for four years, doing mission work in Mexico for two years and teaching in Southern California for four years, I just moved back to Kansas and am currently teaching 6th grade at Faris Elementary in Hutchinson.
SC: Do you have children? What are their names? Did they go to Sterling College?
Leake: I don't have any kids of my own, but have been doing foster care the last two years in California as well as having a number of my students living with me over the last few years.
SC: Where do you live?
Leake: I just moved back to Sterling in July, 2012.
SC: How did your experience and time at Sterling College shape you?
Leake: My years at Sterling deepened my faith and allowed me to really study and put into practice what I believed. I met some of my best friends in the world here, friends that challenged me to live in an authentic, Christian way. My RDs and some of my professors truly modeled Christ for me and encouraged me to apply what I was learning to every aspect of my life.
SC: What did you enjoy or appreciate most about Sterling College?
Leake: My deepest gratitude from my time at Sterling is for the people that I met here, friends and mentors that left a lasting impression on my life. My class had some awesome men and women of Christ and a number of us agreed to meet every night at Sputnik (the Harold and Eileen Evans Clock in the middle of Brownlee Plaza in front of Mabee Library) to pray. Those months of late-night prayer shaped me almost more than anything else in my life. I have fond memories of late night laughter, pranks, and honest talks with my peers for which I will forever be thankful.
SC: Do you have any children or relatives who attend or work at the College now?
Leake: No
SC: How are you remaining involved on the campus?
Leake: I have many friends who have returned to work at SC now. I'm excited to be living in Sterling again and am hoping that I can be involved in mentoring students and helping in the missions and Education departments as well.
SC: Do you mind if we include an email address so people can get a hold of you?
Leake: leakecm@gmail.com