Senior Seanna Patterson says Concordia Nebraska prepared her for a “bigger purpose than simply a career in the future”

Senior exercise science major and dance team member Seanna Patterson chose to attend Concordia Nebraska because of the university’s small community, excellent pre-health programs and the opportunity it provided her to continue her dance career in college.  

“It was an easy decision to make as a high school senior,” Patterson said. “Being from Lincoln (Nebraska), I wanted to find a smaller school that was still close to home, and Concordia was that school.”  

Now, Patterson is about to graduate and plans to continue her education in physical therapy school, where she’ll receive her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. She says that her “dream career path” includes working as a physical therapist who specializes in dance rehabilitation.  

“I plan to work with professional dancers in companies so they can continue to pursue their passions,” she said. She spoke highly of the unique opportunities at Concordia Nebraska that have prepared her to enter this next chapter of her life.  

My professors have helped push me to dream big, such as applying to top-rated graduate schools and serving those outside of the United States. Others have helped me discover passions outside of my major, especially in the Luke Scholars program, so I have a bigger purpose than simply a career in the future.

“My Concordia experience will help prepare me for my vocation by giving me a well-rounded, yet vigorous, education,” she said. “Many of the classes are exploratory and hands-on, which is important when applying these skills in the ‘real world’...Concordia really values its students, and the community here is always welcome to help others. Additionally, the opportunity to go on a medical mission trip my junior year would not be possible at other local universities.”  

She added that her favorite part about Concordia Nebraska is the sense of community it provides.  

“My favorite thing about the Concordia experience so far,” she said, “is the fact that I have grown close to my classmates, professors and teammates. It really does feel like a family where you can find support everywhere.”  

In addition to her exercise science major, Patterson also chose to pursue minor areas of study in biology and psychology. She is a member of the pre-health club, the Phi Epsilon Kappa honors fraternity for health and human performance students and is part of the Luke Scholars honors program. She says that her professors and mentors in all these areas have encouraged her to “dream big.” 

“My professors have helped push me to dream big,” she said, “such as applying to top-rated graduate schools and serving those outside of the United States. Others have helped me discover passions outside of my major, especially in the Luke Scholars program, so I have a bigger purpose than simply a career in the future.”  

Patterson added that Concordia Nebraska also allows her to connect her studies in the health sciences with her Christian faith, saying that the health and human performance department especially encourages her to be a servant leader.  

“Concordia is helping me to develop my faith by surrounding me in a Christian community that nurtures, yet challenges, my faith as I am not a Lutheran Christian,” she said. “As a nondenominational Christian, I have learned different perspectives on my faith through my theology classes. I have also learned how important a servant’s heart is in the health and human performance field as we are called to love others and take care of our bodies.”  

Patterson’s family lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has one younger sister who studies communication disorders at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and two dogs named Milo and Emmett. Outside of her studies, Patterson enjoys crocheting, baking and learning about history – especially sports history. She also enjoys a number of physical activities, such as working out, skateboarding and watching sports. 

The exercise science major at Concordia Nebraska allows students to study human movement and health with the assistance of state-of-the-art human performance laboratory equipment, hands-on laboratory courses and a broad-based liberal arts core curriculum. Learn more about the exercise science program here.