Alumnae Spotlight: Kristen Tamberg & Nicole Brown ‘16
1/22/2020 1:41:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
HAMDEN, Conn. – Kristen Tamberg '16 and Nicole Brown '16 had decorated careers as Bobcats – numerous goals, awards and accolades proved these two alums to be honorable representations of the Quinnipiac women's ice hockey program's success and history.
After unlacing the skates and graduating from Quinnipiac in 2016, Tamberg and Brown ventured off to chase new dreams. Tamberg was accepted into the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC and recently completed a mission trip with the Dental Humanitarian Outreach Program (DHOP) in the Philippines, and Brown just completed certification to become a professional firefighter in Toronto.
Tamberg is currently in her fourth and final year at USC's dental school and was chosen to join the DHOP as a student volunteer. The organization's board is comprised of USC dental students and is overseen by faculty advisors. DHOP has been fundraising and traveling to numerous locations around the world to provide free dental work to underserved communities since 2010.
"This was my first mission trip with DHOP, and I am grateful to have been chosen to join the team because it was such an incredible experience," Tamberg explained. "During our five clinic days we treated over 400 patients, most of which had never been to the dentist and were in desperate need of treatment."
The DHOP has traveled to Honduras, Kenya, Cambodia, Nicaragua, and Panama over the past couple of years and has treated over 3,500 patients since 2010. Tamberg hopes to join DHOP in the upcoming years as a volunteer faculty member.
"The patients we saw were so appreciative of us, smiling and hugging us even after sitting in a chair for hours at a time to receive treatment," Tamberg explained. "To be able to play a part in restoring their smiles reminded me of why I love dentistry. This was an experience that I will never forget."
On the other side, Nicole Brown has found a passion that emerged from the ice and transitioned to the heat.
The Toronto native recently completed all of the certification requirements in order to become a professional firefighter. The process took approximately 14 months of schooling and hands-on training, which included earning an emergency medical responder certification, a DZ license, which allows Brown to drive the truck, and three additional certifications related to knowledge, firefighting skills and fitness.
"I think becoming a firefighter was always something I wanted to do," Brown explained. "My father has been a firefighter for the city of Toronto for 30 years and growing up I wanted to be just like him. I had an understanding of the job and what it entails and there are so many transferable skills from being an athlete and part of a team."
Brown credits the drive, mental strength and leadership skills that are needed to become a firefighter to Quinnipiac and her time spent as a member of the women's ice hockey program.
"Quinnipiac's culture of pride really helped shape the person I am today," Brown said. "I learned so much about teamwork, adversity, leadership, reliability, attention to details…the list goes on. All of those skills that the coaching staff would preach to the team is exactly what firefighting is all about."
Both Brown and Tamberg led the Bobcats in the team's historic 2015-16 season as seniors. They distinctly represent the program's culture of pride, collaboration and success, and how the skills developed on the ice can directly impact the journey off of it later. Hard work, attention to detail and selflessness are just a few of the traits that represent each of these Bobcats and aligns with their success after leaving Hamden.
"Transitioning from athlete to firefighter only made sense to me because this career is heavily dependent on how well you can work together as a team in a potentially very stressful situation," Brown said. "Quinnipiac was some of the best years of my life and definitely helped prepare me for my career in firefighting."
To stay up-to-date on news surrounding Quinnipiac women's ice hockey, follow on social @QU_WIH.
After unlacing the skates and graduating from Quinnipiac in 2016, Tamberg and Brown ventured off to chase new dreams. Tamberg was accepted into the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC and recently completed a mission trip with the Dental Humanitarian Outreach Program (DHOP) in the Philippines, and Brown just completed certification to become a professional firefighter in Toronto.
Tamberg is currently in her fourth and final year at USC's dental school and was chosen to join the DHOP as a student volunteer. The organization's board is comprised of USC dental students and is overseen by faculty advisors. DHOP has been fundraising and traveling to numerous locations around the world to provide free dental work to underserved communities since 2010.
"This was my first mission trip with DHOP, and I am grateful to have been chosen to join the team because it was such an incredible experience," Tamberg explained. "During our five clinic days we treated over 400 patients, most of which had never been to the dentist and were in desperate need of treatment."
The DHOP has traveled to Honduras, Kenya, Cambodia, Nicaragua, and Panama over the past couple of years and has treated over 3,500 patients since 2010. Tamberg hopes to join DHOP in the upcoming years as a volunteer faculty member.
"The patients we saw were so appreciative of us, smiling and hugging us even after sitting in a chair for hours at a time to receive treatment," Tamberg explained. "To be able to play a part in restoring their smiles reminded me of why I love dentistry. This was an experience that I will never forget."
On the other side, Nicole Brown has found a passion that emerged from the ice and transitioned to the heat.
The Toronto native recently completed all of the certification requirements in order to become a professional firefighter. The process took approximately 14 months of schooling and hands-on training, which included earning an emergency medical responder certification, a DZ license, which allows Brown to drive the truck, and three additional certifications related to knowledge, firefighting skills and fitness.
"I think becoming a firefighter was always something I wanted to do," Brown explained. "My father has been a firefighter for the city of Toronto for 30 years and growing up I wanted to be just like him. I had an understanding of the job and what it entails and there are so many transferable skills from being an athlete and part of a team."
Brown credits the drive, mental strength and leadership skills that are needed to become a firefighter to Quinnipiac and her time spent as a member of the women's ice hockey program.
"Quinnipiac's culture of pride really helped shape the person I am today," Brown said. "I learned so much about teamwork, adversity, leadership, reliability, attention to details…the list goes on. All of those skills that the coaching staff would preach to the team is exactly what firefighting is all about."
Both Brown and Tamberg led the Bobcats in the team's historic 2015-16 season as seniors. They distinctly represent the program's culture of pride, collaboration and success, and how the skills developed on the ice can directly impact the journey off of it later. Hard work, attention to detail and selflessness are just a few of the traits that represent each of these Bobcats and aligns with their success after leaving Hamden.
"Transitioning from athlete to firefighter only made sense to me because this career is heavily dependent on how well you can work together as a team in a potentially very stressful situation," Brown said. "Quinnipiac was some of the best years of my life and definitely helped prepare me for my career in firefighting."
To stay up-to-date on news surrounding Quinnipiac women's ice hockey, follow on social @QU_WIH.
Quinnipiac vs. UConn
Saturday, September 23
Women's Hockey vs Dartmouth 11/8
Wednesday, June 03
Women's Ice Hockey vs Harvard (11/9)
Wednesday, June 03
Women's Ice Hockey: Friendship Series Full Recap
Wednesday, June 03
