Gretta Komperda graduated from Wilbur Wright College in 2024 and is currently a rising senior at Amherst College studying Neuroscience and English Literature. While Amherst has been academically rigorous and fulfilling, she remains deeply grateful for the transformative relationships she created during her time at Wright, and for the support of her wonderful peers and professors of GBSS who pushed her to apply herself beyond what she thought herself capable of. At Wright, she was the president of the Great Books Student Society and editor-in-chief of the Great Books Symposium Journal from 2023-2024. At Amherst, she is the co-president of the Transfer Student Association, a proud member of the Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team, Sparkle Motion, and a devoted member of the Humphries House food co-op. She is thankful for the amazing opportunities of the past few years, such as the Star Scholarship and a full ride to Amherst College. Gretta hopes that her academic career will end in a job that allows her to help others while also being intellectually challenging. She enjoys biking, reading literary classics, and cooking an insane amount of food for her housemates.
Anneliese Bucher is a student at Oakton Community College finishing her second year before transferring to continue her education in architecture. Her interest in great books derives from her belief that by understanding these books, individuals can better understand contemporary issues. She spent her childhood alternating between Brazilian and American cultures, thus using books to navigate cultural divides and better understand herself.
Sergio Romero was born in Colombia and has lived in Chicago since 2022. That same year he began his education at Wilbur Wright College, from which he graduated in the spring semester of 2024. He served as the club treasurer and secretary of the Great Books Student Society during the 2023/2024 school year. He continued his education at Elmhurst University, seeking to obtain a bachelor’s degree in public policy and administration, and is expecting to graduate in May of 2026. Sergio speaks Spanish, Polish and English; his main interests are history and languages. He is grateful to all the amazing faculty members and students who made his time at Wright an unforgettable experience.
Muhammad Saeed is a 2026 graduate of Wilbur Wright College who plans to transfer to Tulane University in the fall to pursue a major in English literature. As president of the Great Books Student Society, he is grateful for the opportunities for growth and discussion the club and its members have given him. He looks forward to what the future holds and hopes to find a career that allows him to grow intellectually and continue reading widely. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, golf, and getting lost in great books.
Tristan Bruns is a professional tap dancer, theater and dance critic, and amateur philosopher with a BA in Music (Instrumental Performance) from Columbia College Chicago.
Sean Ogilvy is a 2026 graduate of Wilbur Wright College. After years of independent writing and reading, he returned to education to formally study and pursue literary scholarship. Eternally grateful to the faculty who make the publication of this journal possible, Sean hopes that future students will keep the journal alive and that this truly special project will be recognized for what it is: an affirmation of the intelligence and capabilities of community college students. He is currently studying literature at Amherst College.