Ahnna Kalmes transferred from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to Temple University to join the women’s gymnastics team anchored by interim head coach Brittney Miller. Kalmes, a health professions major, serves on the National Student Transfer Week planning committee.
Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg
Name: Ahnna Kalmes
Major: Health professions
School/college: College of Public Health
Projected Year: Class of 2029
Hometown: Andover, Minnesota
Previous institution: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
If you ask Ahnna Kalmes why she transferred from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to Temple University, her first reason is simple: Brittney Miller, who had a decorated gymnastics career at Nebraska before becoming the women’s interim head coach for the Owls. Kalmes, now a redshirt first-year student on the women’s gymnastics team, felt an immediate sense of belonging with her coaches and teammates from the moment she stepped onto the North Broad Street campus. As a health professions major, she plans to enter a pre-physician assistant program. She is also on the National Student Transfer Week planning committee and co-created a Bible study group for student-athletes.
When transferring from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, what made you choose Temple?
I chose Temple because of my connection with Brittney, who was a gymnast at Nebraska. Even before I committed to school there, we had an amazing connection. I felt Temple would be a place where I would feel valued as a gymnast and a person. I loved how much the coaches cared about me, and so far, I have always felt wanted and so deserving of being on this team.
Then when I saw the beauty and architecture on Main Campus, I knew I would never get bored. I also loved the idea of going to school in a big city; seeing other busy people around me makes me want to do better as a person and have that growth mindset. It’s a city that never sleeps.
How did you go about finding community and making friends?
When I came here in the summer, since there were not very many students here, I was just living with my roommates, who are seniors on the team, and was able to build a connection with them. As students started coming in, I found that the many coffee shops on campus became an easy way to meet up and get to know people. I would reach out to a few girls I already felt connections with, and we would grab coffee, chat and get to know each other better.
Once I started to be more outgoing and talk to more people, I co-founded this student-athlete Bible study group, which has been an amazing place for me to make friends. I have also met people in the training room. It has not been one particular place, but rather wherever I have found people with common interests; I just talk to them, get to know their story and go from there.
What does being a Temple student mean to you?
Transferring to Temple means committing to excellence. I think that we hold a very high standard for each other here at Temple. I also hold a very high standard for myself in that I'm able to push others and their abilities here, but they also push me to be the best that I can be in the classroom and in the gym as a student-athlete.
Do you have any advice for current or future transfer students?
I would suggest taking it day by day and giving yourself time to process all the different emotions that may come with leaving your past school behind. I learned it is important to acknowledge those feelings while allowing yourself to embrace this new chapter and the opportunities that come with it.
When I first transferred to Temple, I wish I had spent more time in the city, with all the activities and things to do. At first, I was a little bit scared to go into the city because I did not really know what I was doing or where I was going. But I learned that if you put yourself out there and stay open to new experiences, like taking SEPTA down to Center City and exploring the city, you will find so many things to do that you enjoy. Or if you are more interested in exploring nature outside of the city, you can go to places like the Schuylkill River. Finding those beautiful places that remind me of home has really helped me in this process of transferring to Temple.
