Student Stories: Lauren Kalsbeek

In the fall of 2023, we asked several current students to tell us a little bit about their experiences here: what made them choose Widener, how they felt about that experience today, and how well they felt we were preparing them for their next steps.  Lauren Kalsbeek, a 2025 undergraduate student majoring in Engineering, was one of the students who shared their responses.

When I was looking for colleges, I was very specific that I wanted to find a place that had both a good engineering program and a swimming team.  Once I’d visited Widener, I realized that the combination of the education, the athletics, and the community made Widener the best choice.

I’m someone who always has to be involved.  Alpha Omega Epsilon ended up being  a great way for me to meet other women in STEM, and so was the Society of Women Engineers.  We’re always looking for opportunities that give us the chance to get extra connections and help us enter the workforce strong.
 
Last summer, I did an internship at a power plant near my home.  I had help from people on campus like faculty and Career Design and Development.  The professors are always great about letters of recommendation.  My professors all know my name and my story.  They want to make sure everyone understands and is on top of the material, and our lab experiences are something I’ve really enjoyed.  I feel like my academics and my experiences have helped prepare me for my next steps.  Thank you!