Kim Schorn '13
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Major: Environmental Science, Education
What activities are you involved in?
I recently began working with the Aid to Women here in Cedar Rapids and am becoming extremely excited about the opportunities for action. Otherwise, my days are fairly full being a wife, mom and student.
Why did you decide to attend Coe?
Innumerable factors go into choosing a college! On paper Coe looked great; they had the majors I wanted and scholarship opportunities I could not refuse. Coe is academically challenging, and it looks great on a resume. Though Coe offered all these important aspects, I think the deciding factor was that I could picture myself living and functioning in the Coe community.
What does Coe mean to you?
Coe to me is a supporting community. Coe offers resources. Whether you need access to educational literature or to a helping hand, Coe will provide. There is a huge array of caring people who are interested in helping each other succeed, and it simply blows me away.
What is it like living in Cedar Rapids?
The residents are extremely friendly; people greet each other at the local grocery stores and smile on the street. Cedar Rapids has almost all the amenities of a larger city without the crowded atmosphere. The variety of dollar stores is also a plus.
Why should a prospective student choose Coe?
Because Coe is amazing in every way! Seriously, the students here really have their acts together. Good work-ethic is easy to establish, because most your classmates are also working hard. Classes run smoothly, homework is manageable, and new, exciting opportunities abound.
How has Coe changed your life?
Wow. If it weren't for the generosity of Coe staff, my life truly would be going in a very different direction. I attribute my very ability to attend college to the faculty and staff here at Coe. The help they have given me, combined with their willingness to tailor a unique situation, truly proves the staff and faculty here at Coe to be invaluable.
Who is your favorite professor?
I love the way Dr. Christensen performs lectures. I did not expect to so fully enjoy my cellular and molecular biology lecture, which is one of the few large lecture-style classes offered at Coe. Dr. Christensen shattered my preconception of what biology lecture would be; his energy never seems to fail. He interjects hilarious little memory hooks into every lesson and acts out roles of various molecules. Students can feel his passion for teaching and his great attitude for life just from listening to him lecture.
What is your favorite place on campus?
I love the Hickok computer lab. It is open 24 hours to students who just need to use the computers. The lab is quiet, large, and generally (it seems to me) vacant. It has huge windows through which the ivy spills when the windows are open. Hickok is my quiet, peaceful space where I go when I need to get work done.
What Coe tradition would you like to start?
I am working with Aid to Women, toying with the idea of starting a "Moms at Coe" group. There are, of course, very few parents here at Coe, but it would be great to have a group of students/parents with whom to discuss various aspects of life or even arrange a daycare co-op.
How was Coe in terms of scholarship support?
Coe offered me a full-tuition Williston Jones Scholarship. I then had an unexpected pregnancy. I was so afraid. What if they took away my scholarship? How would I manage to keep up with the necessary GPA while learning how to be mom? I called Becca Potts Murphy, my admission counselor, and explained my situation and my fears. She was absolutely amazing. She told me I was not in any danger of losing my scholarship. She asked that a meeting be held to determine whether or not I could take a year off and apply my scholarship to years 2009-2013 instead of 2008-2012. Almost immediately I received a call, wishing me luck and inviting me to come to Coe in 2009 with my scholarship intact. So how was Coe in terms of scholarship support? Every time I think about how wonderful they are my eyes flood with gratitude.
