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Lane Ilstrup

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General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Gardening
  • Drawing And Illustration
  • Community Service And Volunteering
  • Cooking
  • Food And Eating
  • Advocacy And Activism
  • Child Development
  • Ecology
  • Education
  • Exploring Nature And Being Outside
  • Farming
  • Painting and Studio Art
  • Spanish
  • Theology and Religious Studies

Reading

  • Academic
  • Biography
  • Cookbooks
  • Magical Realism
  • Sociology
  • Religion
  • Cultural

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

Hi, I’m Lane Certo Ilstrup - I’m finishing a BA in Art Education, leading my university's food justice programs, mentoring other low-income first-year students in the Bonner Program, and until recently working as a landscape laborer. Six years ago, I came to Minneapolis from California, to study marketing at an art school. Turns out, that was too expensive! I also hated convincing others of what to buy in my studies. But I loved the expression of the fine arts, systems thinking, and building relationships, which is the basis of my work today. I left that program, and worked seasonally; in dishwashing, wildland firefighting, summer camp counseling.. learning and earning to return to school when I could. In 2025 I returned to college at Augsburg University. I'm working to become a high school art teacher so that I can empower students through the creative process. Art is not an ivory tower; it’s a tool we use to understand and interpret life itself, and I'm driven to embody that. My other passions include homeless outreach, harm reduction, and interfaith study. I love to cook, eat, and will try anything once except skydiving! To better connect to my community, I speak English, Spanish, and elementary Somali. Recent honors I’ve earned for my work: President’s Student Civic Leadership Award, Seed Coalition (2026) Care and Compassion Award, Augsburg Food Justice Programs (2026) Most Likely to Save Someone from a Burning Building Award, Bonner Leaders (2026)

Education

Augsburg University

Bachelor's degree program

2025 – 2028

Majors:
  • Fine and Studio Arts
  • Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
GPA3.9 GPA

Santa Cruz Cnty Cypress Crt High School

High School

2018 – 2020

GPA3.6 GPA

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Teachers College at Columbia University, Rhode Island School of Design, Temple University, California State University-Dominguez Hills, California State University-Long Beach, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Stanford University, University of California-Davis
Majors of interest:
Fine and Studio Arts, Outdoor Education, Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Desired degree modality:
In-Person, Full-Time
Medical school interest:
No
English as first language:
Yes
Homeschooled:
No
Test scores:
  • SAT1340

Career

  • Work-Study Student Leader

    Civic & Social Organization · Augsburg Campus Kitchen (Food Justice Programs)

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Dishwasher, Back-of-House Manager

    Food Production · Cooks | Bellecour

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2023

  • First Year Mentor

    Civic & Social Organization · The Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation

    Jan 2026 – Present

  • Summer Camp Teaching Assistant

    Education · Boulder Creek Art Lab

    Jan 2020 – Jan 2020

  • Summer Camp Teaching Assistant

    Education · Minneapolis College of Art & Design (Studio Kids Art Camp)

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2021

  • Assistant Teacher

    Education · Judson Preschool

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2021

  • Community Greeter

    Public Relations and Communications · Adventures in Cardboard

    Jan 2023 – Jan 2023

  • Outdoor Education Crew Member

    Environmental Services · Conservation Corps MN & IA

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

  • Summer Camp Team Leader

    Civic & Social Organization · Camp Stevens

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

  • Land Care Crew Member

    Environmental Services · Metro Blooms

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

  • Textbook Center Assistant

    Packaging and Containers · Minneapolis College

    Jan 2023 – Jan 2025

  • Landscape & Hardscape Crew Member

    Environmental Services · RosenTree Gardens

    Jan 2025 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Arts, Teaching, Art Education, Education
Dream career goals:
K-12, Community/Adult or Undergraduate Visual Arts Educator
Work experience:
8 years
Has nursing license:
No
Leadership experience:
Yes

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Politics
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
Lane Ilstrup Student Profile | Bold.org