Student Spotlight: Maddie Laquerre ’24

The Student Spotlight Series is a new feature to highlight Saint Michael’s students’ lives in all corners of campus. Students’ answers have been lightly edited for style and clarity.  

Maddie Laquerre ’24, from Colchester, Vermont, is majoring in French and Secondary Education. She is minoring in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).

Maddie Laquerre

What brought you to Saint Michael’s College? 

Since I am from the area, many of my teachers went to St. Mike’s so I knew it was a great place to go to become an educator. I also was interested in the French language and culture immersion programs that Saint Michael’s has. Since we are so close to Quebec, there are trips almost every year to Montreal and Quebec City. I went to St. Mike’s events when I was a kid, such as Kids Knight Out and sporting events. St. Mike’s is known in the area for having a strong community and I wanted to be a part of it.  

Where do people see you on campus? (What are you involved in? How do you spend your time?)   

Right now, I am very busy with my student teaching. However, I am still involved with many things on campus. I am one of the co-presidents of the French Club and plan all of the events and cultural excursions to Montreal and Quebec. I am a Resident Assistant (RA) in the quad, so I am often in the office and planning programs. I also work at the Tarrant gym front desk.   

What is your favorite thing about the academic experience at St. Mike’s?  

One of my favorite things about the academic experience at St. Mike’s is the study abroad opportunities. I knew I wanted to go abroad when I entered college, but I had no idea that there were so many opportunities for people to explore the world through St. Mike’s. I was a Freeman Foundation scholar in 2022 and was able to spend the summer in South Korea at an internship in education for credit. I also studied abroad in Grenoble, France, where I went to a French-speaking university and was able to take all of my classes in French. I wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of all these amazing opportunities if I hadn’t come to St. Mike’s.  

 What is your favorite thing to do on campus?  

One of my favorite things to do on campus is see my friends. I have been able to make many good friends over the years through the activities that I have been a part of.  

How are you hoping your St. Mike’s education will prepare you for the future? (Do you have after-graduation plans?)  

By the end of spring, I will hopefully have completed and received my teaching license for Vermont. I hope to find a job teaching French in Vermont or another job relating to education. St. Mike’s has prepared me extremely well for becoming an educator and I am hoping that in the next few years, I will get a master’s in teaching. Since I have also had many experiences abroad, I am hoping to go back abroad somewhere new!