Kadin Luhmann

Welcome to my portfolio! I am a senior at Iowa State University, who is looking for opportunities to become a full-time reporter for a print/online publication. 

My Recent Work

Iowa State Daily •

Behind the scenes: ISU Bakery and Dining Support Center

When students treat themselves to a cookie from Union Drive Marketplace or a cupcake from Seasons, every bite traces back to the ISU Bakery.
Operating out of the Knapp-Storms Building, the bakery produces more than 1.6 million desserts per year.
“We produce breads, pastries, cookies, bars, cupcakes, bagels and pizza dough,” Karen Rodekamp, director of ISU Dining, said. 
The ISU Bakery, also known as the Dining Support Center, has 243 unique recipes that are still popular among former Iowa State...
Iowa State Daily •

Students line up for free caricatures at ISU AfterDark

Caricature drawings took place at the Memorial Union on Friday night as a part of ISU AfterDark. Many students waited in line for the opportunity to receive a free cartoon portrait of themselves.
Ryan Millennior, a senior in mechanical engineering, said he was impressed by the speed and details of the caricatures.
“The artists really capture the emotions and the essence of a person in under three minutes,” Millennior said.
Kira Moore, an Iowa State graduate, has worked as a caricature artist for...
Iowa State Daily •

Overcoming adversity: ISU international students share their experiences

Krisha Sta Maria, a junior in psychology, moved to Ames as a 13-year-old immigrant from the Philippines. Sta Maria said she faced discrimination as a middle school student due to her accent and the food she would bring for lunch.
Seven years later, Sta Maria has found a sense of belonging at Iowa State.
“I see a lot more acceptance here, more diversity and more people that are willing to learn about you and your culture,” Sta Maria said.
Sta Maria is a domestic student because she recently becam...
messengernews.net •

Giving Back

-Messenger photo by Kadin Luhmann

Murphy washington, residential manager for the Fort Dodge Residential Correctional Facility, grew up in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood in Fort Dodge. Today, he gives back to the community through his work with the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee. He has also worked with Athletics for Education and Success.Editor’s note: This feature first ran in a special publication called Hometown Pride, published June 28, 2025, featuring people and organizations from F...
Iowa State Daily •

Behind the scenes: ISU Creamery

The Iowa State University Creamery staff have worked behind the scenes to meet the demand that the new school year brings. 
“There were a lot of welcome back parties on campus, so we are actually kind of low on some supplies right now,” Danielle Christofferson, the Creamery’s production manager and interim business manager, said. “We’re making a lot of cups right now.”
Employees at the Creamery are responsible for packaging, mixing and flavoring ingredients, cleaning the equipment and freezing t...
Iowa State Daily •

ISU club members look for new recruits at ClubFest

ClubFest drew many Iowa State students to the Memorial Union on Wednesday. 
The annual event featured a large number of student organizations and clubs, where members displayed presentations and other pitches in order to recruit new members.
Bryan Kurpiewski, a senior in marketing, represented the Iowa State Men’s Hockey Club as a board member and assistant coach for the team.
“There’s a big Cyclone community and that’s something we’ve been lacking the past couple years, so we’re just trying to...
Iowa State Daily •

Parking 101: How to avoid tickets

For many Iowa State students, the start of the new semester comes with unfamiliarity about parking rules and how to get to campus without a ticket.
Ryan Lane, a sophomore in environmental engineering, said that many of his roommates received tickets during their first year on campus.
“During the first couple of months, they got a lot of tickets because the signs were confusing and they had to park on the side streets,” Lane said. “I lived in Buchanan and got a parking pass, but my roommates were...
Iowa State Daily •

ISU students share favorite campus dining spots

Choosing a place to eat can be challenging for first-year Iowa State students, especially during their first week on campus.
Trevor Peterson, a freshman in industrial engineering, said Union Drive Marketplace’s proximity to his residence hall made finding a place to eat simple.
“It’s super easy and convenient,” Peterson said. “Their tacos are awesome. I love the chicken, and the steak is also pretty good, but the chicken is where it’s at.”
The buffet-style food choices at Union Drive Marketplace...
messengernews.net •

Daniel Pharmacy: 62 years in business

-Messenger photo by Kadin Luhmann

Daniel Pharmacy has been open at the corner of Central Avenue and 12th Street since 1963 and has been a family-owned business since it debuted.John Daniel II had to make a difficult decision as a college student attending the University of Iowa.Daniel originally wanted to be an engineering major, but switched to pharmacy after a conversation with his father.
After struggling early in his college career, Daniel said he considered going back to engineering, but d...
messengernews.net •

Celebrating hope

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla

Sherry Washington, president of the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee, holds part of the ribbon from the ribbon cutting for the new basketball courts at H.C. Meriwether Park Saturday during Juneteenth in Pleasant Valley.Fort Dodge residents gathered at Meriwether Park in Pleasant Valley on Saturday to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday.The event featured a car show, local vendors and a basketball tournament on the newly renovated courts.
Murphy Washington, a memb...
Iowa State Daily •

Beans the Owl gives ISU students a ‘hoot’ and a glimpse into nature

A barred owl piqued the interest of wildlife students after making the Iowa State campus its home in late January.
Etienne Pienaar, a graduate student in fisheries biology, first spotted the owl by the bus stop at Lagomarcino Hall.
“I had to do a double-take because at eye level, I thought it was one of those plastic owls that people put next to a barn to keep pigeons away,” Pienaar said. “Then it blinked at me, so I just sat there and looked at it and then it eventually flew away.”
A different...
Iowa State Daily •

ISU students look to ‘smash’ their prep week stress at the MU’s Cy’s Finals Frenzy

Iowa State students took part in day two of Cy’s Finals Frenzy at the Memorial Union on Monday.
The three-day prep week tradition featured various activities such as yard games, craft making, exam preparation and a smash station.
Nicole Bartolozzi, university innovation fellow and special assistant to the vice president of student affairs, said the purpose of Cy’s Final Frenzy is to help students relieve stress before finals.
“We’re really trying to help them merge healthy study habits with well...
Iowa State Daily •

Moving forward: How The Pride Alliance adjusted after Iowa prohibited DEI

The Pride Alliance at Iowa State has undergone some changes after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 2435 (SF 2435) into law on May 9, 2024. The bill prohibits public universities in Iowa from funding, maintaining and creating DEI offices. 
Before SF 2435, employees at The Center, a space in the Memorial Union formerly known as The Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success, planned for Lavender Graduation, an event where graduating students are recognized for their academic and personal achievements...
Iowa State Daily •

Students pose for the camera as Iowa State hosts the first university wide CYning Day

Dozens of Iowa State students took part in the inaugural university-wide CYning Day on Wednesday. 
Iowa State’s CYning Day gave students the opportunity to take a photo in front of a backdrop, enjoy snacks and commemorate the acceptance of their summer job offers Wednesday.
“CYning Day is something that we’re doing campus-wide this spring for any student that has signed for an internship or full-time offer,” Tabatha Carney, the Ivy College of Business’s director for career services, said.
Carney...
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