History major receives $29,500 in scholarships to attend Loyola University Chicago

Anna Hanson, 20, is earning a History Transfer Pathway Associate of Arts (A.A.) at Inver Hills Community College. Anna will be graduating this May with plans to attend Loyola University. She received a $28,000 Transfer Presidential Scholarship and $1,500 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship to attend the Catholic university in Chicago.

“I am looking forward to majoring in history at Loyola with a minor in anthropology, the latter if time allows,” Anna said. “I’ll be starting in fall 2025 with plans to live in an apartment near the campus.”

A top student at Inver Hills, Anna has a 4.0 GPA, and she made the Dean’s List for fall semester 2023, spring 2024, and fall 2024. She participates in TRIO/Student Support Services (SSS) and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK).

She works part-time as a bakery clerk at Lunds & Byerlys in Eagan while attending Inver Hills. She also volunteers on a weekly basis at the Minnesota Museum of American Art, the Minnesota History Museum, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art. She previously worked as an intern for the East Side Art Council and as a tour guide at Paisley Park.

Anna loves working at museums, and she is centering her career explorations on the museum profession.

“I want to be an archivist,” she said. “I’ve always really liked researching and writing—plus history is a special interest of mine. I’ve also known I wanted to work in museums ever since I watched Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian when I was eight.”

More about Anna…

Anna graduated from the School of Environmental Studies, Class of 2023. She has a cat named Millie, who will be going to Chicago with her. She also has a golden doodle named Rosemary.

“I currently live with my mother, father, and sister,” she said. “I feel that I have found a second family in the people at my work and with my friends as well.”

Anna usually spends her free time with her friends, doing things around the city, playing games, or watching movies together at home.

“I go to a lot of concerts, fifty-five so far in fact, and am constantly listening to music,” she said. “I also play guitar, bake, read, and do art when I have time. Above all, I love spending time with my cat, Millie.”

Anna resides in her hometown, Eagan, Minnesota.

Anna life gallery

David Riggs: Faculty perspective

“It has been a joy having Anna in several of my classes!  Her inquisitive mind and love of the past will serve her well as she moves on to Loyola.”

David Riggs
History Faculty
Inver Hills Community College

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Jennifer Parker: Staff perspective

“Anna was one of my first advisees in TRIO. We bonded over Crocs and good music festivals. Little did I know, Anna would become one of the most goal-oriented and committed students I have ever worked with. Anna has maintained a 4.0 GPA while working 20+ hours a week and carrying a full-time class load.

“Knowing that graduate school was in her future, she worked intentionally to cultivate a resume that included internships and volunteering far beyond that of the average college student. Anna consistently pushed herself to pursue the most challenging coursework possible, and it has paid off in a huge scholarship offer from Loyola in Chicago and acceptance into some of the top research institutions in the country.

“Beyond her achievements, Anna is a joy to be around, and her heart and drive for arts accessibility is admirable. She is dedicated to the discovery and preservation of knowledge in her ultimate goal of becoming an archivist, and I have no doubt she will be making the world a better place one goal at a time. We are so proud of you, Anna!”

Jennifer Parker
TRIO SSS Academic Advisor
Student Services
Inver Hills Community College

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What does an archivist do?¹

Archivists

An archivist is an information professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, and provides access to records deemed to have long-term value. These records can be in various forms, including documents, digital files, audio or video recordings, and physical objects. Archivists also play a role in educating the public about the importance of preserving historical records.

Role: Archivists preserve and manage historical and cultural records. They also ensure these materials are accessible to researchers and the public.

Focus: Appraising, acquiring, arranging, describing, preserving, and providing access to records of enduring value.

Skills: Organization, cataloging, preservation, information management, and communication.

Output: Well-organized, preserved archival collections and systems for access.

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Anna Hanson • Q & A

What inspired you to enroll in the History Transfer Pathway A.A. program at Inver Hills? 

I chose Inver Hills because, at the point of senior year, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to find in a college yet. Inver is close to my house, I had some other friends going there, and TRIO had already accepted me into their program, so it seemed like a no-brainer. I already knew I wanted to be a history major, so it wasn’t difficult to decide that portion. I’ve been lucky since all my history courses here are able to transfer to Loyola—that’s not the case for all schools.

What do you enjoy most about your history studies?

Because I want my focus to be more on the social aspects of history, I really enjoy learning about what life was like throughout the past, especially through books and primary sources. It’s a lot of fun to read someone’s personal thoughts during a specific event, rather than an overview in a textbook, or look at art to understand someone’s emotions while creating the piece.

What do you like best about your volunteer work at museums?

I love how I get to interact with all sorts of people, learning about why they love art like I do and what led them to stopping by. I also get to work with great people who all support my goals and have similar interests as myself. I love wandering around to look at the various pieces the different museums house, as well, especially at the MIA, where there’s always something new. I also urge everyone to stop by The M to check it out and see what they offer.

Three words that describe you as a college student:
MOTIVATED. CREATIVE. ENTHUSIASTIC.

If you could work at any museum in the world, which museum would you choose and why?

I would love to work in The Getty just because when I visited, I was blown away by the architecture and pieces of art there. I don’t know much about its history, but it has definitely made its mark on California and myself.

What advice would you give students thinking about participating in TRIO/Student Support Services at Inver Hills?

Do it!! Alicia and Jen are both the most amazing people, and if you’re trying to make the most out of your time at Inver, they will help you do that!

What person has influenced your life the most and why?

My uncle—he has always been a huge part of my life since I was born, teaching me how to defend myself, tie knots, drive a car, identify different birds, all sorts of things. I am very grateful for him.

If you could make one thing happen on Earth right now, what would it be?

Make everyone more empathetic and openminded towards others.

One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:

SURPRISING

Anna Hanson • 12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Dance
2. Place you would most like to visit: Italy
3. Most exciting thing you’ve ever done: My friend and I traveled to Milwaukee last October, and we stayed in a Wizard of Oz Emerald City-themed Airbnb, and then we met my favorite singer, Ricky Montgomery, at his concert; I also got two free bracelets and bought a cowboy hat—10/10 trip
4. Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Travel the world 2) Pay for my master’s degree 3) Give the rest to charities and science
5. Best book or movie you’ve read or seen lately: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
6. Time period you would explore if you could time travel: The Roaring Twenties
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Travel the world
8. Your national bird if you were your own country: Shoebill stork
9. Dream occupation: Music archivist
10. Person you would most like to meet: Timothée Chalamet, to be honest
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Cake decorating
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Climate change

Learn more about the History Transfer Pathway A.A. at Inver Hills by contacting:

Admissions Team
admissions@inverhills.edu
651-450-3902
866-576-0689
College Center

• Want more information? Fill out an inquiry form.
• Ready to apply? Fill out an application.
• Want to virtually visit campus? Check out our upcoming visit opportunities.
• Can’t make it to campus? Take our virtual tour.

Want to connect with an advisor? Check out our virtual drop-in hours or email admissions@inverhills.edu to request a campus-based or phone appointment.

¹ SOURCE: AI Overview

History program at Inver Hills

History is the spirit of the past, the sovereign of the present, and the soothsayer of the future. Studying history helps you understand people, society, and events. Historians contemplate history as the laboratory of human experience. History at Inver Hills is your gateway to opportunity in both academics and your chosen career.

Award

History Transfer Pathway A.A. Degree: Credits: 60

The 60-credit History A.A. degree program offers you a powerful opportunity to complete an associate degree and transfer with junior-year status to a designated history bachelor’s program at one of seven Minnesota State universities. Our History coursework provides a strong interdisciplinary foundation for other majors as well.

As a student in the program, you will complete the Required History Pathway Curriculum (12 credits), Electives (18 credits), General Education Requirements (28 credits), Health/Physical Education coursework (2 credits) for a credit total of 60.

Minnesota State universities

• Bemidji State University
• Metropolitan State University
• Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Minnesota State University, Moorhead
• Southwest Minnesota State University
• St. Cloud State University
• Winona State University

History Program Planning Guide

Why Study History at Inver Hills?

Understand the kaleidoscopic mechanics of society.
History is a picture window that reveals the past beauty and struggles of peoples who once shared distinctive economic, behavioral, and cultural norms. Light from that window spills on the workings of our own society, giving us insights we can find no other way.

Recognize the breezes, gales, and blasts of change.
Bob Dylan once said, “There is nothing so stable as change.” Tell that to a society catching the brunt of change at its most turbulent. Studying history can give you a head start in preparing for the worst and best change has to offer.

Clarify your global, national, institutional, local, and individual identity.
History is the wellspring of identity both personal and collective. Without history, organizations and people have no reference points or memories to define and sustain their place in the world.

Preserve stories from yesteryear, centuries of yore, and primeval times.
People like going to museums for a reason. History, natural and human, is an irreplaceable treasure that must be safeguarded and passed on. In fact, the drive to preserve happenings of all kinds is so strong in humans, we’ve even created a Museum of the Future in Dubai.

Find inspiration for future quests and endeavors.
Who are the most inspirational and influential people of all time? Joan of Arc, Charles Darwin, Martin Luther King Jr., Amelia Earhart, J. K. Rowling, Albert Einstein, and Winston Churchill might make that list. Delving deeper, you will find that studying history reveals uplifting people and remarkable adventures at every turn.

Take heed and heart from hard lessons.
Things don’t always work out as planned. You can learn plenty from the mistakes and hard-won victories of the past. In other words, you can’t gain experience without history.

You don’t have to be a historian to take our history courses.
Earning your A.A. with Emphasis is not required to complete history coursework. You can add courses in this discipline to your academic palette to broaden your perspective and enhance your career options.

Become a better person in a grander world.
You can build up your moral reserves by investigating the life stories of people caught up in brutal circumstances that required brilliant ethical reasoning. Sometimes making the right decision can be next to impossible. History can show you how it’s done.

Race off to earn your bachelor’s degree.
This A.A. with Emphasis degree gives you the credits you need to transfer with junior-year status to a baccalaureate program at a Minnesota State university. Your education at Inver Hills will be the wind at your back on your sprint to future academic and career success.

History interprets change reactions.
Only a fraction of history majors become professional historians, but most grads with history degrees go on to launch successful careers in any number of fields, working as attorneys, diplomats, librarians, business leaders, authors, archivists, researchers, journalists, educators, politicians, and more.

Career Opportunities

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Archivists

Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.

Archivist is a Bright Outlook occupation and is expected to grow rapidly in the next several years. 🌞

Reported job titles

• Accessioning Archivist
• Archivist
• Digital Archivist
• Film Archivist
• Museum Archivist
• Records Manager
• Reference Archivist
• Registrar
• State Archivist
• University Archivist

WAGES

Minnesota (annual)

Workers on average earn $53,710
10 percent of workers earn $40,080 or less
10 percent of workers earn $114,890 or more

United States (annual)

Workers on average earn $59,910
10 percent of workers earn $37,720 or less
10 percent of workers earn $103,000 or more

2023 Wage Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Occupational Trends: Minnesota

Employment(2020): 110 employees employees
Projected employment (2030): 130 employees
Projected growth (2020–2030): 18 percent
Projected annual job openings (2020–2030): 20

Occupational Trends: United States

Employment (2023): 8,800 employees
Projected employment (2033): 9,500 employees
Projected growth (2023–2033): 8 percent: Faster than average
Projected annual job openings (2023–2033): 1,100

Visit O*NET OnLine for comprehensive information about the occupation: Archivists

SOURCE: O*NET OnLine: Archivists

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TRIO Student Support Services at Inver Hills

Empowering students to succeed.

Come find your community of support! TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) provides academic advising and guidance in the transfer process, plus social and cultural events. If you are planning to graduate from Inver Hills and transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree, TRIO SSS could be a great fit for you.

Why join TRIO SSS?

Make connections.

With TRIO, you’ll get personalized advising and so much more! Find friends and comradery, plus social and cultural events. TRIO offers workshops on study skills, financial literacy, time management and many other topics. Plus, take advantage of career planning, major exploration, college transfer planning, and campus visits to four-year institutions.

How to Join

Thanks for your interest in the TRIO/Student Support Services program at Inver Hills Community College! Our application is now open for students to apply to our program. There are three (3) steps in our application process:

1. Complete the online application: Inver Hills TRIO Student Support Services Application
2. Complete our income verification form (We need this information to know if you are eligible for the program; we will email this form to you after we receive your application.)
3. Complete an intake assessment with one of our advisors (We will email you about scheduling this after we receive your application.)

Apply to Join TRIO

Before applying to TRIO, please:

• Apply to Inver Hills
• Activate your StarID
• Activate your .EDU email, which is YourStarID@go.minnstate.edu. Use this email for the TRIO online application.

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