Her toughest match yet: Saving the planet

When you first meet Katherine Almquist ’24 and learn about her accomplishments and future plans, it’s almost tempting to shake your head in disbelief and think she’s just too good to be true.

她不仅是火博体育网球队的联合队长，而且已经参与了一项 variety of impressive scientific research experiences, including work this summer at renown ecological center 哈佛森林.

然而，一旦你了解她，你就会意识到这真正的特别之处 Skidmore student-athlete is her combination of drive, work ethic, growth mindset, vision, and kindness. She’s an inspiration — not just for what’s on her résumé, but 因为她为网球场、科学实验室和她的校园关系所做的贡献， day in and day out.

I have no idea exactly what lies ahead. But I do know where I want to go. 我在 我的使命是让人们团结起来拯救地球，这个目标指引着我前进 through the unknown every day.

Katherine Almquist ’24 通过LinkedIn

As long as it takes…
It was her “toughest match of the season.” On a Saturday in April on court No. 4 in the Wilton YMCA (Skidmore’s home court until the new McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center 完成), Almquist was locked up in a tight singles 网球 match with Amherst College senior Calista 沙. Amherst was the seventh-ranked women’s team in Division III and would narrowly miss the national semi最后s.

最后，经过两个半小时的激烈打击和长时间的得分，阿尔姆奎斯特 came up short in the third set tiebreaker. Nevertheless, she was pleased. 在几周内 在比赛前，她说:“我承诺在练习中实现我的目标 除了发球和截击外，每个球都要打旋转球，即使我想这样做 要把他们压扁——留下来为每一分而战，只要需要.”

“这种承诺帮助我克服了在我累的时候想要摆脱的冲动 and get past that mental block to be more consistent. I stayed focused for almost the entirety of the Amherst match. In terms of making important mental progress in my game, I am really happy.”

凯瑟琳可能会以五比一落后，但她有足够的意志力 herself, ‘I need to keep competing 硬 and try to find a way.’ She’s really good at adjusting to situations and experimenting with tactical approaches to see what 作品.

Curt Speerschneider, Head Women’s Tennis Coach

Fungi and plant health…
But 网球 isn’t Almquist’s only passion.

今年夏天，她主修环境科学，同时辅修国际事务 and 西班牙语, is a research intern at 哈佛森林这是哈佛大学位于马萨诸塞州中部的世界级生态研究中心，占地4000英亩. 这种经历将本科生与追求科学的导师和研究人员联系起来 调查. It’s a great fit with Almquist’s plan to pursue a J.D.-Ph.D. 程序和 a career in law and environmental science. 

Almquist渴望运用“广泛的研究、团队合作和解决问题的能力” 为哈佛森林REU的双菌根子项目做出贡献 殖民.

Mycorrhizae are fungi that form symbiotic relationships with the roots of plants. She says they’re vital for our natural ecosystems because more than 80% of plants 特别是依靠它们来吸收养分和水分，这有助于推动全球格局 养分循环. The goal of the research is to determine the advantages of dual 殖民 防止氮和磷的限制-两种主要的营养形式 plants need to survive.

“The internship is quite intense,” Almquist 说. “But it is challenging me and expanding my brain in ways I never expected. I love the opportunity to grow and learn and couldn't be more excited to be here.”

Katherine has a positive attitude and the ability to pursue ambitious goals. 没有什么 stands in her way, and she always moves ahead with genuine enthusiasm.

Kurt Smemo, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Sciences

Climate change data & 解决方案…
阿尔姆奎斯特在密歇根州西南部的联合码头镇长大，离纽约只有一箭之遥 Lake Michigan, and is a keen observer of the natural world. In her middle school years ——她和她的孪生兄弟在家上学——阿尔姆奎斯特开始注意到这个湖 并不总是像往常那样结冰，后来又出现了藻类 in the lake was becoming problematic.

“从我记事起，我就一直对水污染感兴趣和关注 and the importance of Lake Michigan,” she says.

During the summer after her first year 在火博体育, Almquist served as a sustainability intern for nearby Chikaming Township focusing on gauging public awareness and support for environmentally sustainable 改变，比如禁止在该镇7英里长的湖边使用硬装甲 Michigan shoreline. Hard armoring includes construction of bulkheads, seawalls, and dikes, and has been the traditional approach to shoreline protection.

The following summer, having joined Professor of Chemistry Juan Navea’s Laboratory of Atmospheric Physical Chemistry 在火博体育 and developed skills in conducting experiments and dealing with complex research questions, Almquist landed an internship with Penn State’s Drawdown Scholars Program，其使命是为全球气候行动指明一条积极解决方案导向的道路 气候变化.

阿尔姆奎斯特在一个电子工程实验室帮助设计一种天线来确定 the effects of 气候变化 on honeybees by tracking their flight patterns. 每一个 year, she says, commercial beekeepers suffer significant losses due to pesticides and fertilizers that negatively impact food production. The project helps identify solutions in the electricity, food, agriculture, and land use sectors.

我曾经很有压力，因为我没有解决环境问题的所有答案 problems, but I'm not supposed to have all the answers, no one does. 通过 #社区, I'm learning about different avenues and directions I can take my interests and expanding my brain to see all the angles.

Katherine Almquist ’24 on LinkedIn

Absolute boss girl…
During the 2022-23 网球 season, Almquist typically played 在没有. 3或No. 4单打, 这一点值得注意，因为在2021-22赛季，教练科特·施佩尔施奈德(kurt Speerschneider)将当时的二年级学生安排进了球队 在没有. 1 when the top player decided to study abroad for the year.

“凯瑟琳能适应不同的情况，多才多艺，积极乐观 herself that in my estimation she was the natural choice for No. 1,” Speerschneider 说.

“I lost a lot, but the coach trusted me, and I trusted the process. 我告诉自己， '我知道我能做到'我对瓦萨尔的一场大胜证明了我是正确的 end of the spring season,” Almquist 说.

在那场比赛中，酿酒人队的塔图姆·布拉洛克以6-3赢得了第一盘，但阿尔姆奎斯特却爆发了 back to take the 最后 sets 6-2 and 6-3.  

在2022-23赛季，阿尔姆奎斯特与另外两名队长一起被选为三人队长 老年人. Speerschneider says the role “shows the respect I gave her as a leader. She’s the type of person who only comes around once in a while. She’s exceptional.”

Her leadership is not lost on her teammates.

“I love how Katherine motivates us with her words of wisdom to achieve individual 团队目标. She’s very understanding and supportive of each member of the team. 她的能量在场上和场下都闪耀着，”25岁的队友科尼卡·杜尔(Konika Dhull)说 All-Liberty League Singles honoree from India. “She is an absolute boss girl.”

来自马萨诸塞州汉密尔顿市的25岁的埃拉·普洛夫斯特补充说:“凯瑟琳对网球的兴奋 is contagious and inspires the entire team! Before I came to Skidmore, she was the 首先主动联系并登记入住，她继续创造一个温馨的环境 with current underclassmen. She’s a dependable teammate, loyal friend, and kind person.”

被选为领导是一回事，举手选择是另一回事 领导. Last year, Almquist joined Skidmore Athletic Advisory Committee’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) subcommittee.

今年4月，部分由于阿尔姆奎斯特的努力，体育部赞助了 a live panel event in the Zankel Music Center: "经验很重要:火博体育LGBTQ+社区积极盟友的对话." S学生、教练、校友和教职员工聚在一起学习如何变得活跃 allies to the LGBTQ+ community and affirm their support.

对阿尔姆奎斯特来说，这项工作不仅仅是做正确的事情，它是一种个人情感 挑战.

“首先，我必须解决自己内心的同性恋恐惧症，这是来自社会的 norms,” she 说. “Students and professors told me how helpful the panel conversation was, but deep down I know it only scratched the surface. There’s more to do, and I hope to accomplish more my senior year.”

在你的生命中，总有那么一个时刻，是时候挺身而出，成为你一直以来的领导者了 been training to be your whole life. … For me, that day is today! I didn't know it was coming, but I know it is here, and this is how I am choosing to respond 100%. 

Katherine Almquist ’24 on LinkedIn

The 网球 season is never over…
2022-23赛季的火博体育女子网球队连续第16次参加NCAA III tournament appearance, besting Drew University 5-1 in the second round. (Almquist won her match 6-0, 6-0.) Unfortunately, No. 4 Middlebury prevailed in the regional 最后. 无. 28 Thoroughbreds finished with a 13-8 record, earning their 12th consecutive Liberty League championship.

“虽然这是一个苦乐参半的结局，但我为我们的团队和进步感到无比自豪 “这个赛季我作为一个球员和一个人所做的一切，”阿尔姆奎斯特说，他没能完成比赛 her individual match against Middlebury (she was down 6-4, 1-0). “But I was competing 硬. I don't know what the outcome would have been, but it taught me a lot, and I’m excited to start getting ready for the fall."

“现在开始考虑接下来会发生什么似乎为时过早，因为赛季刚刚结束 ended, but it’s never too early to start planning for long-term goals.”

在她的火博体育职业生涯中，阿尔姆奎斯特被评为全自由联盟 一队单打一次，二队单打两次，并获得出场机会 on the Women's Tennis All-Academic Team. Her first year, she was 7-2 in singles matches and won all three of her doubles matches. As a sophomore, she advanced to the ITA Northeast Regional singles semi最后s. This year, she finished at 11-7, primarily at number three singles.

No doubt, there’s more to come.

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有兴趣加入凯瑟琳的使命“让人们一起拯救地球”吗?? 跟着她走 LinkedIn.