ChE Junior Balances Engineering, Music, Golf
Ann Staudt just might have found the magic formula: the junior ChE major has figured out how to balance her hectic school life with something she loves—music—while she also works on uniting her future career with her favorite sport—golf.
Staudt, who grew up on a farm near Marble Rock, Iowa, is combining her math skills with her love of chemistry at Iowa State. She says she got her aptitude for math from her parents, who both studied math in college—dad at Iowa State and mom at the University of Northern Iowa.
“I guess I was destined to have math in my genes,” Staudt says. “I always liked math and I enjoyed the science classes I had in high school.” What’s more, Staudt knew that chemical engineering would be her future after taking her first chemistry class in high school. “I was hooked,” she adds.
Jack Lehmann, one of her math teachers, convinced Staudt that engineering was a good match for her classroom skills. “He was very instrumental in my decision,” Staudt says. “He encouraged me to look into engineering and told me there were plenty of job opportunities.”
But Staudt’s choice to pursue a degree in chemical engineering nonetheless surprised many of her teachers and friends, who expected her to get a degree in music: in addition to playing the piano for 14 years, Staudt also had learned to play the clarinet.
“A lot of people had the perception that I would be a music teacher or band director,” Staudt says. Still, Staudt stays involved in music both at her church and as a member of both Iowa State’s Marching Band and Wind Ensemble. She also plays in the pep band for the men’s basketball team.
“I’ve found that music can be a great balance in your life,” Staudt says, “because it takes your mind off of the pressures of the classroom. Music is kind of a passion for me, but I don’t want it to be my job. It’s something I enjoy and want to share with others in my life.”
Staudt is also passionate about golf, and though her game wasn’t quite good enough to play at a Division I school, she still tees up whenever her busy schedule permits. “I held a bunch of school records in golf—until my sister came along and broke all of them!” she quips. (Little sister, she adds, now tears up the links as a member of the Winona State University golf team.)
When she finishes college and goes into the working world, Staudt would love to combine her passion for golf with work. “My dream job would be to work in the golf industry,” she says.
For now, Staudt is down in Gainesville, Georgia, doing her internship with agricultural products and food processor Cargill, Inc. But who knows? Maybe that titanium driver you buy one day in the future will help you hit your tee shot further—all because an Iowa State chemical engineering student made her dream come true.
