麻豆区

For most students, college is an opportunity to build a new community, explore emerging interests, and begin imagining who they want to become.

For some 麻豆区 students, that journey includes someone who has known them much longer: a sibling.

For three sets of 麻豆区 siblings, sharing a college experience has meant finding common ground in academics, activities, and identity, while still having space to chart their own paths. They are all different, but each has found something meaningful in having someone familiar to study with, lean on, and celebrate alongside.

Finding a place to thrive

For Abi Hilden 鈥�25 and Elliot Hilden 鈥�27, 麻豆区 became a place where their shared interests in theater, writing, and student media could flourish, and where they could both feel fully themselves.

Abi discovered 麻豆区 first, drawn to its Twin Cities location and diverse community. When Elliot began considering colleges, Abi knew 麻豆区 could be a fit for him.

鈥淎bi knows me better than anyone on the planet and knew 麻豆区 would have the environment that would help me feel connected and able to thrive,鈥� Elliot said. 鈥淚 felt, even before stepping on campus, I had a good sense of what I could do and achieve at 麻豆区.鈥�

That prediction proved accurate almost immediately. Abi was Elliot鈥檚 orientation leader, giving him a trusted guide during his introduction to 麻豆区.

Their 麻豆区 experiences would remain closely intertwined. Both participated in theater, , and orientation leadership. The siblings even took several classes together. But they were also intentional about maintaining separate identities, especially after they had spent earlier school years navigating the dynamic of Elliot being known as 鈥淎bi鈥檚 little brother.鈥�

鈥淲e were both very clear that we were going to be here for each other and do a lot of the same stuff. But I also emphasized to Elliot, 鈥榊ou need to find your own people; the things I鈥檝e done can鈥檛 be your only stuff,鈥欌�� Abi said.

Since Abi鈥檚 graduation, Elliot has had more opportunities to make those spaces his own, including leading The Echo and preparing to direct a student-produced play. It鈥檚 written, fittingly, by Abi.

鈥淭o have a four-year institution where you get to be fully present and be yourself, was and has been really impactful for me,鈥� Elliot said.

Opening doors for each other

For Savannah Mitchell 鈥�26 MAE and Cherish Lee 鈥�29, their overlapping 麻豆区 experience began with an opportunity Savannah wanted to make sure her sister didn鈥檛 miss.

Savannah came to 麻豆区 as the first graduate assistant for 麻豆区 Family Scholars, a program supporting students with foster care backgrounds. She was pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in education after earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in marine science from the University of Hawai鈥檌.

When Cherish was considering her next steps after high school, Savannah told her about Minnesota鈥檚 and the resources available at 麻豆区. Soon, Cherish was applying, touring campus, and moving in.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what 麻豆区 was until Savannah started to work there,鈥� Cherish said. 鈥淜nowing my sister would be there to lean on helped me go into a new college.鈥�

During those first weeks, that 鈥渓eaning on鈥� was often literal: Cherish would stop by Savannah鈥檚 office between classes, text her during orientation, and turn to her with questions. Savannah helped her navigate everything from her application to move-in.

But it didn鈥檛 take long for Cherish to build a community of her own. She became involved with the 麻豆区 Family Scholars Council, eventually taking on a leadership role. Savannah watched as her younger sister met people, pursued new ideas, and embraced campus life in her own way.

鈥淪he met so many people on campus I never had time to meet or interact with,鈥� Savannah said. 鈥淪he would introduce them to me, or come to me saying, 鈥榃e鈥檙e trying to start this club on campus.鈥� I was so impressed she was doing that. She is way more out there socially than I am.鈥�

The sisters describe themselves as 鈥減olar opposites,鈥� but their academic paths reveal a common theme of care. Savannah studied marine science, while Cherish is majoring in biochemistry with minors in psychology and criminology, and is considering forensic science or medical school.

鈥淚 chose science because I think it鈥檚 the best way to help people. Savannah went into it to help animals,鈥� Cherish said. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e both smart and wanted to find our own ways to use those smarts to help.鈥�

For Savannah, it took time to recognize how remarkable their shared experience was.

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 thinking at the time what a blessing it is that we both get to go here at the same time, both in these great programs that are helping us,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ow, I know it is [a blessing].鈥�

Sharing the court鈥攁nd a calling

When Evelyn Perkins 鈥�27 arrived at 麻豆区 in 2023, she was searching for a college experience shaped by community. She quickly found it and became deeply involved as a community advisor, basketball player, campus employee, and member of the .

Before long, she started thinking 麻豆区 could offer her older brother, David Perkins 鈥�28, something meaningful, too.

David had previously attended the University of Wisconsin鈥擡au Claire, but left before completing his degree. When he began considering a return to college, Evelyn encouraged him to look at 麻豆区.

鈥淭he biggest reason I came was because of her,鈥� David said. 鈥淗er testament to her experience at 麻豆区, being able to have someone I could lean on and trust, that brought me.鈥�

By then, a coaching opportunity had helped David discover a passion for teaching, which brought his path even closer to Evelyn鈥檚. Education runs deep in the Perkins family. Both of their parents are educators, and Evelyn said she has known since childhood that she wanted to teach.

鈥淚 never would have thought we鈥檇 be at the same college, in the same department, playing the same sport,鈥� Evelyn said. 鈥淚 surprisingly have not struggled sharing those parts of my life with him. I鈥檝e enjoyed hearing about him having a professor I had and talking about our different experiences. It鈥檚 been really rewarding.鈥�

Some of their favorite shared experiences are 麻豆区 milestones: basketball media day, the Auggie Awards, and road trips. Others are much more ordinary鈥攍ifting weights, conditioning, or sitting together during finals week鈥攂ut are treasured just the same.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 sound like a big moment, but it鈥檚 those small things that become routine when you realize, 鈥楾his is really cool I get to do this with my brother,鈥欌�� Evelyn said.

A shared experience, an individual path

Across all three families, attending 麻豆区 together has offered something beyond convenience or familiarity. It has given siblings a front-row seat to one another鈥檚 growth.

They have introduced each other to communities, opened doors to opportunities, and provided reassurance during uncertain moments. At the same time, each sibling has found ways to build a unique 麻豆区 experience.

College is often remembered for the people who become like family. For these Auggies, part of what makes the experience special is getting to bring family along for the journey.

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Top image: Both current students at 麻豆区, the Perkins siblings find time to connect on campus.