All the way from her home Puerto Rico, Gustavus Adolphus College junior Annika Schroder has been named the 2018 winner of the Glenn T. Seaborg Science Award by the Swedish Council of America (SCA). The award is given annually to an outstanding science or mathematics student from one of six U.S. colleges with Scandinavian heritage that maintain an active connection with modern Scandinavia through language study, student exchange programs, and cultural events.
“My dad is from Sweden, so I spent a lot of my childhood both in Sweden and learning about Swedish culture. I decided to attend Gustavus because of the ties that this school has with Sweden and because it is a college that allows me to focus on biology and chemistry in addition to Swedish language and culture.”
The award will allow Schroder to travel to Sweden in December and attend the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar as well as several events during Nobel Prize Week including the Nobel Reception and the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony.
Schroder, a biology and Scandinavian Studies double major, is excited for any opportunity to return to Sweden to further her research and educational experience. “Winning this award is really gratifying and humbling because I feel like it acknowledges both my past and continuing efforts towards pursuing a research-based career,” she explained. “I am very grateful to receive this opportunity as I feel that being able to attend the Nobel festivities will be an unforgettable experience that will make a lasting impact on my future.”
“Annika has an outstanding work ethic. She is one of the most disciplined and focused students I’ve met in two decades of teaching,” Associate Professor of Scandinavian Studies Ursula Lindqvist said. “She is motivated by the desire to make any learning experience—be it in the classroom, in the lab, or in an internship environment—as meaningful and productive as possible. She asks tough questions and is not content with easy answers.”
After graduation, Schroder plans to work towards an MD/PhD and eventually become a specialized OB/GYN studying embryology. “I’m excited to figure things out, get more research experience (possibly in Sweden), and work towards all of my goals, one at a time,” she said.
“Attending Gustavus has been a defining decision in my academic trajectory. The curriculum has allowed me to explore two of my biggest passions, the sciences and Swedish culture, and I feel that I have been able to navigate resources to seek out different opportunities. I am grateful to all of my professors for cultivating a stimulating educational environment in the classroom,” Schroder continued. “I am especially grateful to my advisers and those I have worked on research and in labs with because of how they have encouraged my aspirations with support and enthusiasm.”
“Annika raises the level of any discussion she is part of, and she does so with humility and perpetual curiosity. It’s a joy to serve as her academic adviser, and in some ways I think I’ve learned as much from her as she has from me,” Lindqvist added.
Visit the Gustavus website for more information about the Gustavus Scandinavian Studies department and about the support the Gustavus Fellowships Office gives to students in securing national awards, scholarships, and fellowships.
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