St. Thomas first-year Miranda Mead was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. After being given a 30 percent chance to live, she defied the odds and is now cancer free.

Mead went through 14 rounds of chemotherapy and kept active through volunteering and participating in cancer groups. She is now a communication and journalism major and keeps active through strength training.

In northwestern Minnesota, a woman was accused of setting fire to her restaurant for insurance money.

Tamara DeVore was captured on security footage entering and exiting a storage room, then leaving several minutes before the room was filled with heavy smoke. DeVore has been charged with first-degree arson.

In national news, President Donald Trump met with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Wednesday in hopes to curb North Korea’s pursuit of Nuclear weapons.

Kim believes his country has been “misunderstood” and viewed with “distrust.”

“I am confident that we can achieve great results that everyone welcomes,” Kim said.

The two exchanged a handshake before leaving to have a 30-minute one-on-one talk. They are facing skepticism about whether they can solve this divisive problem.

At St. Thomas, this is the first year all three Tommie Award finalists were first-generation college students and students of color.

Candidates Bisrat Bayou, Fatoumata Jaiteh and Amira Warren-Yearby all found unique ways to revolutionize the university.

“Some people say it is a unique year, but it doesn’t have to be a unique year,” said Warren-Yearby. “I don’t want to put too much weight on this being the telling sign that the university is changing. Time will tell.”

Emily Haugen can be reached at haug7231@stthomas.edu.