By Sarah Mcsparin

Kate Brueggemann once aspired to be a star on Broadway.

Now the University of Louisville junior political science major is focused on becoming a lawyer.

“My mom has owned a dance studio since I was born and I did ballet, tap and jazz competitively until I was a senior in high school,” said Brueggemann.

She attended Notre Dame Academy in Northern Kentucky and, although she was very active in her high school theater, it was during an AP U.S. History class that an “amazing teacher helped me be really enthusiastic about politics,” she said.

Brueggemann, the newly elected Student Government Association Executive Vice President for the 2007-2008 academic school year, did not originally plan on attending the University of Louisville.

“I thought for sure that I wasn’t going to U of L,” she said, “but I came here on a tour and absolutely loved the campus and the community atmosphere.”

She became interested in campus life and became a member of various student organizations like the Resident Student Association, Harlan Scholars, Honors Programs and Pi Sigma Alpha.

“Kate dedicates herself to her work like few people I have seen before,” said Nicole Kersting, a junior political science major and fellow member of RSA.

“[Kate] is dedicated to making this university a better place for every person who steps foot on campus,” said long time friend, Matt Ward, a junior health and human performance major.

Brueggemann makes time to visit her family and friends. Her mom is an accountant and office manager and her dad is a civil engineer. Brueggemann’s younger brother attends Covington Catholic High School and is one of her best friends. “Since he was four years younger than me, I kind of took on the mother role with him,” she said.

When at home, she and her friends go to the movies, to dinner, hang at each others’ houses and frequent Newport on the Levee, which Brueggemann said is similar to Louisville’s Fourth Street Live.

“I love going home and spending time with my family, and when I see my old friends from high school, it’s like we’ve never been away from each other.”

With her senior year of college right around the corner, Brueggemann plans on taking the Law School Admittance Test in June. She plans to enter law school upon graduating from U of L next spring.

“I’ve had a really great experience. I just really love U of L,” said Brueggemann.