Something In the Water

FROM STREAM TESTING TO LAB WORK, PRAIRIE STUDENTS ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF SCIENCE ACTIVITIES. SO, IT IS IT A COINCIDENCE THESE WOMEN FROM THE CLASS OF 2019 ARE ALL PURSUING – AND THRIVING – IN STEM-RELATED FIELDS? WE DECIDED TO FIND OUT.

— By Brendan J. O’Brien

Even as a wide-eyed freshman on the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus in the fall of 2019, it didn’t take long for Lizzy Hokanson ’19 to find her people. Before her first college lecture even began, Hokanson was out and about, actively seeking engagement opportunities during the school’s Welcome Week for new students.

It was then she first learned of She is MechE

She is MechE’s credo centers on growing, empowering, and inspiring women in the field of mechanical engineering. Hokanson joined immediately, and in the years that followed – particularly those during the odd semesters that unfolded during the COVID pandemic – she developed more and more relationships within the community. By the time her senior year rolled around last fall, she was elected the group’s president.

“I’m here to oversee the group’s activities and all of the fun learning, technical, and professional opportunities we have,” shares Hokanson. “Being a mechanical engineer there aren’t too many women in the classes we are in, so making a good group of friends is really important to keeping the retention rate high for women in the program.”

Consider it a match made in networking heaven. This spring, Hokanson, a bright, bubbly people person if ever there was one, was the recipient of a Leadership Showcase Award given by U of M’s College of Science and Engineering for her outstanding work in the fields of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

While Hokanson flourished at Minnesota, the seeds of her scientific interests were planted here at Prairie. And she is not alone. Numerous women from the Class of 2019 went on to pursue STEM-related fields in college, and this spring we caught up with a number of them to see not only what they’re up to these days, but if their shared love of science is more than just a coincidence.

Time is wild. Feels like you guys were just here on campus, and now you’re graduating from college. Congratulations. What’s next?

I will be living in Boston next fall and am currently applying to jobs. I hope to be a research technician in a lab or working in the sustainability office at a university. I plan to attend graduate school in the near future, but first want to narrow down what kind of career I hope to have.

Several of your female classmates from TPS are graduating with STEM degrees. That can’t just be a coincidence, can it?

I am not surprised many of us are pursuing STEM fields, mostly because we all have a solid background in lab skills, math/statistical knowledge, and scientific experimentation thanks to Prairie. There are so many strong female role models at Prairie, and I’d personally like to shoutout Mrs. (Shannon) Schafer and Mrs. (Sarah) Turek for sparking my interest in biology and environmental science. I am constantly amazed and proud of the work my peers are doing, and am confident they will make a positive difference in the world.

Any words of wisdom, guiding principles, etc. you keep in mind as a young woman beginning to make her way in a challenging field?

I personally put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect and do my best work, and I think it is a very common mindset among women in STEM. As I come to the end of my college career, I try to remind myself of all the hard work I’ve done and the things I’ve accomplished at Union. It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but it’s important to celebrate your own milestones and achievements. You’ve probably made more of an impact than you give yourself credit for.

What was your favorite math or science class at Prairie and why?

I really enjoyed AP Biology with Mrs. Turek senior year, especially the ecology unit. What I learned in that class made my introductory biology courses in college much easier.

Any words of wisdom to the Class of 2023 as they get ready to leave for college?

Try new things, connect with your professors, and embrace the uncomfortable – there will probably be a lot of it at first!

Time is wild. Feels like you guys were just here on campus, and now you’re graduating from college. Congratulations. What’s next?

These last four years absolutely flew by! I will be working as a Laboratory Technician in the Department of Neurology at the UMN Medical School for the next couple of years. During that time, I’ll be preparing to apply to medical school.

Several of your female classmates from TPS are graduating with STEM degrees. That can’t just be a coincidence, can it?

First of all, I am incredibly proud of my fellow classmates pursuing STEM fields, especially since it is usually a challenging environment for women. I remember STEM being strongly emphasized during my time at Prairie, which I believe influenced our decisions to go into that field. There were many opportunities to get involved in STEM extracurriculars that allowed us to apply our knowledge in different ways besides quizzes and tests.

Any words of wisdom, guiding principles, etc. you keep in mind as a young woman beginning to make her way in a challenging field?

I remember one day in AP Chemistry senior year, Dr. (Jean) Weaver asked me to stay behind after class. She sat down next to me and told me to be confident in my knowledge and to trust myself, especially since women are often shut down and made to feel like they do not belong in STEM. She had noticed I would often say the correct answer to her questions under my breath, but I would never raise my hand in fear of saying the wrong thing. She encouraged me to have confidence, speak up, and even if I said the wrong answer, I was still brave enough to put myself out there. I would echo her same advice to younger women interested in STEM – if you think you can do it, nothing and nobody can stop you.

What was your favorite math or science class at Prairie and why?

My absolute favorite class was Human Anatomy and Physiology. We performed some very memorable dissections and learned the coolest stuff. I also really enjoyed AP Biology. It set up the foundation of my biology and biochemistry knowledge for my first biology courses in college, which were certainly a challenge. I have to thank Mrs. Schafer, who was my freshman Biology and Anatomy teacher, for helping me fall in love with biology! I will also shoutout Dr. Weaver who guided me through Honors Chemistry and AP Chemistry. She is the reason I majored in Biochemistry and why I have the confidence I do today.

Any words of wisdom to the Class of 2023 as they get ready to leave for college?

Starting college was one of the most exciting times of my life. Be open to change (easier said than done, I know), push yourself to do things you never thought you could do, and be kind to yourself. I wish you all the best!

(Completion December, 2023)

Time is wild. Feels like you guys were just here on campus, and now you’re graduating from college. Congratulations. What’s next?

Thank you! The time really has flown. I’ll be doing a Software Engineering internship with IMC Trading in Chicago this summer, and then I’ll be going back to WashU for one more semester to finish my BSMS in Computer Science. After I graduate, I’m hoping to spend a few months traveling (both to visit my extended family in Argentina and to explore) before starting a full-time software engineering job somewhere in the Midwest.

Several of your female classmates from TPS are graduating with STEM degrees. That can’t just be a coincidence, can it?

I agree, it’s not a coincidence at all. In my opinion, the hardest hurdle that women in STEM have to pass is enrolling and persevering in first and second-year classes, which requires confidence. Prairie’s challenging honors and AP classes – especially in our respective STEM fields –prepared us well because we came into college with genuine and resilient self-esteem. Not only did we know we belonged in these fields, we knew we could succeed.

Any words of wisdom, guiding principles, etc. you keep in mind as a young woman beginning to make her way in a challenging field?

Use your limited time and energy where it’s most impactful. Call it “work smarter not harder,” “pick your battles,” or the Pareto principle, the idea is the same. There’s a lot we can do to focus our energies on the endeavors that actually matter. I find it is especially important for women to keep this in mind, since we tend to take on extra responsibilities for the benefit of those around us.

Also, choose fewer but more meaningful commitments. Remove the need for willpower whenever possible – spend too much time on TikTok? Get your friend to passwordprotect your Screen Time limit. Structure your life to take advantage of your strengths and adjust for your weaknesses (I use a routine app and task manager instead of relying on my terrible memory). Make your life as easy as possible so you can focus your energy on what’s genuinely hard.

What was your favorite math or science class at Prairie and why?

My favorite teacher was Mrs. Grobschmidt, who I had in 3rd Grade and who I got to see in high school when she transitioned roles.

In 3rd Grade, she fostered my love for math and logic. She had these fun math worksheets we could take whenever, and at some point, she introduced me to logic puzzles. I remember struggling to solve any of them, but I had so much fun learning that I didn’t mind, and they were an exciting challenge for years to come.

Now, it’s a joy whenever I run into her, because she has such a wonderful and kind demeanor. She always has a smile on her face, and I always feel welcomed by her.

Any words of wisdom to the Class of 2023 as they get ready to leave for college?

Take the first year, year and a half, to explore as much as possible. Audition for student groups. Get on the email list for clubs you’re interested in. Go to a wide variety of social events and meet as many people as possible.

Then pare down ruthlessly. Drop every group except your favorite one or two. Unsubscribe from lists. Curate your social life so you interact with the people and attend the events that you enjoy most. Feel free to continue exploring, but focus the vast majority of your time enjoying the great spaces, people, and activities you’ve discovered.

College is a time of self-exploration, but it’s also a time to have fun. Once you have an idea of what you enjoy most, you’ll need to say ‘no’ to everything else to make space for what is most meaningful to you.