Beyond the Classroom: Ultimate Devotion
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The Deutsch Hauptbahnhof Train Station in Hannover |
Goosestepping and eclipse cutting across the field, junior Ellen Zwickl balances her strenuous school schedule with the CSU womens Ultimate Frisbee team, Hells Belles. A two-year seasoned Ultimate player and triple major, Ellen utilizes Ultimate as an outlet for stress, breaking lab hours and library time with a few crocodile catches on the field. Pursuing degrees in Engineering Science, International Studies and German, it is amazing Ellen finds time to practice three days a week, attend tournaments, host fundraisers and socialize with the team.
Originally a pole-vaulter, Ellen was inspired by her brother, a CSU men's Ultimate player to join the team spring semester of her freshman year after a quad injury dimmed hope of participating in varsity sports. During her first semester on the team, numerous challenges presented themselves. As the only rookie, Ellen was bombarded with advice from both the coaches and players. Now a two year team veteran, Ellen has been "breaking the mark," an offensive skill, in a number of tournaments across the country inspiring and mentoring new players as her predecessors before her.
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Ultimate Tournament in Las Vegas |
Although Ultimate has taken Ellen to Frisbee fields nationwide, her real interest lies in the international field, specifically Germany, a country that has inspired two additional majors and an internship abroad. After a study abroad experience in Hanover in the summer of 2004, Ellen returned to CSU not only an engineering, but also a European studies and German language student. This summer, Ellen hopes to combine her interests in an internship opportunity at the Institute for Combustion and Gasdynamics at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Duisburg, Germany. Working alongside a Ph.D. student, Ellen will support research on measuring velocities and temperatures in boundary layer flows using laser-induced fluorescence. Utilizing her German language skills and engineering background, Ellen intends to work and travel abroad for several years after college. If Germany doesn't sound foreign enough, Ellen hopes to pursue a career in astronautics, serving as a mission analyst for NASA working far beyond the confines of America, even the atmosphere.
Three majors, two international studies programs and several ultimate Frisbee tournaments have led Ellen everywhere from Las Vegas to space during her college career. With internship opportunities this summer in Germany and astronaut aspirations, Ellen Zwickl will undoubtedly make her mark on this planet, or the next!