Nursing Major, Arty Puntus, named 2022 Student Representative

With graduation less than a month away, the Class of 2022 Student Representative, Arty Puntus, caught up with host Jordan Shawhan to talk about his time at Finlandia. Puntus, originally from Minsk, Belarus, will be earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

An active member of Finlandia’s student leadership and nursing programs, Puntus has served as Student Senate President since 2020, a Student Ambassador with Finlandia Admissions, an ALD Honors Society Member, the V.P. of FinnU’s Student Nurses Association and an Orientation Leader. 

“I value people over any financial stability or any achievements and being able to make those relationships and translate them later on in life, and being able to keep those friendships with the people after graduation is what’s probably the most valuable and my main goal after graduation.”

His journey has been nourished by his love for people and his ambition to provide a second-to-none experience for FinnU students. Puntus values and embodies the principles upon which Finlandia dedicates its mission, and for those who come after him, he leaves his advice.

“For some people, [happiness] doesn’t mean that you have to be successful as long as you’re happy with what you’re doing, that’s what really matters to you. But in order to achieve those skills, you need to get out of your comfort zone and develop specific skills that will help you to get there.”

After graduation, Puntus will be joining the workforce on the medical surgery floor of a Level I trauma hospital in South Carolina. The Optional Training Program (OPT) is made available for international students looking to pursue meaningful careers and life in the United States.

Puntus will represent the Class of 2022 at commencement in Hirvonen Hall Auditorium on Sunday, May 1 at 1:30 p.m. For those unable to attend, be sure to join us virtually to watch live and hear Puntus’s speech. The livestreams of the Spring 2022 Commencement Ceremony and Baccalaureate Service can be found on our website at finlandia.edu/graduation and on Finlandia University’s YouTube channel. We encourage you to tag us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and show us how you are celebrating!