Stefanie Schroeder, SALT President, Worship Team

Hey Everybody!

I’m Stefanie Schroeder, one of your friendly Crossing student leaders! I am currently a senior at UW, graduating in December 2011 with a degree in Rehabilitation Psychology. I started getting involved with the crossing after my first, and certainly not last, Quest trip. I headed over to Kathmandu, Nepal with a group of fellow students to learn about sustainable community development and how that fits with the unique culture of Nepal. From that point on, I’ve been hooked to the Crossing- the wonderful worship, the compassionate staff, and the genuine openness to all people keeps bringing me back time and time again! Come check out the Crossing and feel free to ask me about getting involved, joining a team, or exploring overseas with the Quest program!

Laura Young, SALT, Social Team Chair, Worship Team

As a lifelong Madisonian, I had originally thought I would keep going to my home church when I went to the university but decided to check out the campus ministry my church supported, The Crossing, first.  After my first vespers,  I was hooked.  Everyone at The Crossing was so welcoming and the vespers was exactly what I was looking for. Now a sophomore, I am a member of the leadership team and have fun organizing events and vespers to enjoy with all of the friends I have come to make here.  When I am not at The Crossing, I can be found planning events at Liz Waters or on the engineering campus. I am majoring in civil engineering and spend a lot of time on the campus with SWE. I also love to do arts and crafts, workout at the Nat, and play in the University Band.  If you have any questions about The Crossing or any ideas about what activities you would like to see us do, feel free to contact me at lryoung3@wisc.edu.  Hope to see you around The Crossing!

Jen Bloesch, SALT, Outreach Team Co-Chair, Music Team, Slow Food UW President

I am a senior studying Community and Environmental Sociology. I first got involved with the Crossing when I went on the Badlands Quest trip during the summer of 2009 and fell in love with the North Dakotan skies. Since then,  I have participated in the Badlands Quest Trip once more, and now serve as outreach chair for the Crossing's leadership team. In my spare time, I love to be outside and cook with friends. My passion is the student organization, Slow Food UW, which I am currently the director of. Slow Food UW has dinners every Monday night and lunch every Wednesday afternoon in Blakeman Hall of the Crossing, and I encourage everyone to come check them out!!

Mary Newhauser, SALT, Outreach Team Co-Chair, Gay and Christian Team

Hi, I'm Mary Newhauser, a fun-loving, goofy sophomore here at UW. I plan to major in Psychology with hopes of eventually making it to medical school. I'm planning on going to Kenya through Quest this winter and I love traveling! One of the reasons I really like the Crossing is because the people here have a very inclusive attitude and make a point of reaching out to groups that might feel slighted by Christianity. My church from home was huge and very contemporary and unique, so I was worried that when I came to Madison I wouldn't be able to find anything like it. But I really like the atmosphere that the Crossing has created here on campus and I've found that I enjoy being a part of a small church.

Kierra Pettit, SALT, Gay & Christian Team

Hello, I’m Kierra Pettit, and I’m currently a sophomore with lots of plans ahead. I’m majoring in Child Development and getting a Family Life Educator Certificate and a Specialist in Gerontology Certificate. I intend to go onto Physician’s Assistant school after undergrad. I originally heard about the Crossing because of Quest trips. Seeing the inviting atmosphere and inspiring messages when I walked in the front door made me intrigued to try Vespers.  After the first time I felt so welcomed and was truly touched and inspired by Vespers that I just keep coming back. I really appreciate how open-minded the Crossing is about so many issues and how they are an inter-denominational service. It gave me the spiritual comfort I had always been looking for and is the one time I truly feel at peace.

Maddie Martini, SALT Treasurer

I first heard about the Crossing through the Quest: Costa Rica program. I came into the building, saw the warm, inviting fireplace in the peaceful upper sitting area, and I knew I had found my new favorite study spot. As time goes on, it's still one of my favorites; I'm earning a dual degree in Dietetics and Life Sciences Communication, and I need to study a lot. As a person still trying to define what "faith" means to me, the Crossing provided me a welcome and open-minded group of people with whom I feel free to share my fears, joys, and worries without the pressure of putting my religion into a closed little box. It's really no wonder why I keep coming back.

Chandra Santori, SALT, Service Team Co-Chair

Sean Douglass, SALT, Service Team Co-Chair

Hi. I'm Sean Douglass, and I am a fifth year Theater and English-Creative Writing major. For me, the Crossing offers a progressive, thoughtful outlook on Christianity that is all too rare in the larger campus ministries. It has been my experience that many of the other groups on campus, while very friendly and welcoming, hold rigid beliefs and are primarily interested in training their students to convert others. At the Crossing, I found a progressive community that acknowledges the depth, complexity, and relevance of its faith, while also appreciating the mystery of God, the value of dialogue, and the range of religious experience in our world. So if you're curious about us -- which, if you're on this website, you probably are -- I would recommend stopping by a Sunday Vespers service, learning the giraffe language at a Compassionate Communication workshop, or looking into a trip abroad through the Badger Quest program.

Aly Manthei, Worship Team

In the past 4 years, the Crossing provided me with a safe place to explore and formulate my religious and spiritual beliefs. The Crossing staff and students are always supportive, open-minded, and ready for conversation. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to be involved in the great things the Crossing is doing, for students at UW, and the Madison community. I am currently a graduate in the Veterinary school.

John Meredith, Music Team

I play baritone ukulele as part of the Crossing’s music team. My style is influenced by folk, celtic and early renaissance music with an emphasis on grounded feeling ahead of technical proficiency.  Sunday’s Vespers Service makes a good performance venue because it has an inclusive atmosphere. I also appreciate many of the sermons which act as good reminders to my thinking throughout the week.

Alex Linz, Music Team

My name is Alex Linz and I am a junior majoring in microbiology.  I have been playing the violin since 4th grade and enjoy music as a creative outlet from all that science.  I'-'m grateful for the opportunity to continue to share my music in college in a fun, laid-back environment at the Crossing with the great group of people known as the Music Team!