Hunters find themselves prepared for life after graduation

Twins often end up being very different people.  One exception to this rule might be Maria and Megan Hunter, two sisters set to graduate from Northern Arizona University who share positive experiences from their collegiate careers.

Megan, a psychology major, and Maria, a criminal justice major, both chose NAU after moving to Anthem during their junior years of high school. Originally from Pickerington, Ohio, the Hunter sisters felt NAU would provide them with a small-town environment and a nice mixture of seasons, both of which reminded them of their hometown.

Maria says NAU offered the most to the sisters, who were looking to branch out on their own but still remain close to family.

“We wanted to stay in Arizona with our parents,” Maria says. “Out of the available options, NAU was the best choice for us.”

Maria chose to study criminal justice in order to reach her goal of one day becoming a lawyer, and cites Rebecca Maniglia, an assistant professor, and Professor Robert Schehr as her two favorite teachers within the department due to their passion and dedication to their craft. Megan, on the other hand, decided to focus her studies on psychology so she can one day work in higher education as either a mentor or adviser.

When they weren’t studying, both girls were actively involved in the the university. Megan joined the psychology club, which further acclimatized her to the department, and also worked as both a sales associate at the NAU Bookstore and a peer mentor in the Successful Transition and Academic Readiness (STAR) Program, which helps incoming students adjust to college life prior to their freshman year.

Maria says the twins participated in the STAR Program prior to their senior year of high school; being apart from their parents was difficult at first, but eventually the program eased the transition and became an integral part of their lives.

“We got over our homesickness, made new friends, and got acclimatized before school even started,” Maria says. “We loved it so much, both my sister and I ended up working at the Multicultural Student Center and with the STAR program as peer mentors during and after the program. We thought it was a great experience and wanted others to have just as great of a time as we did.”

Maria, who worked with her sister as part of the STAR Program and at the NAU Bookstore, served as the Director of Social Media for the Enrollment Management and Student Affairs (EMSA) office and a student manager at the Health and Learning Center.

When the girls weren’t working, however, they were still giving back through various organizations around the Flagstaff community. Both sisters spent many a volunteer hour with the STAR Program on that organization’s many events. Separately, Maria worked at the Murdoch Community Center doing clerical tasks that helped organize data and activities for the center’s director.  During her junior year, Megan volunteered at the Flagstaff Food Bank where she worked behind the scenes preparing and serving food.

Though their undergraduate years are coming to an end, both sisters are prepared to move forward and pursue their separate goals. The Hunter sisters agree that taking advantage of the university’s many opportunities have helped them learn and grow as individuals. 

Megan says being a part of Flagstaff  and university extracurricular activities made it possible for her to learn and grow as a person, and encourages incoming students to participate in any way they can to get the most out of their college experience.  

“My advice would be to get involved,” Megan says. “The college experience is much more exciting when you step outside your comfort zone and try something new, and NAU provided that for me.”