Katherine Lagerstrom

Kate Lagerstrom

The time goes by so fast. I finished my undergraduate degree and I am in graduate school at Stanford in the department of Biology.  This is just a reminder to get involved early, try new things, make an effort to meet new people and make connections, and enjoy your time at UNL because it will be over before you know it!

The best thing about CASNR is the people. I haven’t met a CASNR member I didn’t like. They love what they do and it’s apparent in the way they teach their subjects. They also genuinely care about their students’ education and are willing to devote the time and effort necessary to help them succeed.

I started out in the Exploratory & Pre-Professional Advising Center. At one of the exploratory events, I spoke with representatives from CASNR and I learned about all the opportunities for students there, the smaller college and class size, and the scholarships available to their students. I was torn between the majors of Biochemistry and Microbiology when I entered college, and was totally unaware that both majors were offered in the College of Arts and Sciences and CASNR. I ultimately chose Microbiology in CASNR because I was really enjoying my biology courses, wasn’t dying to take a whole lot of chemistry, and liked the greater amount of freedom for choosing electives in CASNR (there were no College Distribution Requirements) and all the people I spoke with from CASNR were so friendly and helpful.

You get to make your college experience your own and there are people all along the way to help you get and stay on the path you choose. There are so many options, and you shouldn’t be afraid to take a year or so to explore and find out what you love so that when you choose a major, it doesn’t feel like answering the daunting question of “What do you want to do for the rest of your life?” It is more a feeling of confidence that you will always be able to have a job doing something that you’re truly passionate about.

Major:  Microbiology & Environmental Studies
Year:  2017 Alum
Current Employer:  Graduate Student
Notable Activities:
  • President of UNL Microbiology Club
  • Sustain UNL
  • Microbiology Club
  • Intramural Volleyball
  • SMART Girls Volunteer
  • Bright Lights Summer Camp volunteer