Hannah Nicklay’s first and final year on Zephyrus was a gratifying one spent hanging out with friends and claiming the blue rocking chair in the corner of the pubs room. Her dynamic personality brings spontaneity and a sprinkle of humor to every Zonding activity, and she is capable of an impressive human wheelbarrow.
Hannah was excited to join many of her friends on staff this year as an artist. Although she created many incredible pieces online, her experience with art in Zephyrus goes beyond the digital realm; she fondly remembers a Zonding activity where Claire Chen brought in Model Magic for the staff. “She brought all the clay stuff and we made clay sculptures, and they’re still in Amborn’s room,” Hannah said.
Outside of Zephyrus, Hannah participates in Girls United, Women in STEM, and has been in orchestra for four years. A musical prodigy, Hannah possesses the dual talents of a dedicated violinist and expert Spotify playlist curator. “Right now I really like ‘Fireball’ by Pitbull. I don’t really know why, it just goes really hard right now,” she said.
Hannah is living up to her participation in the Women in STEM club by attending St. Olaf College next fall to study environmental science. “When I took [Biology] my junior year I really liked the ecology unit and the more environmentally based material,” Hannah said. “I then took AP Environmental Science and I really fell in love with the whole aspect of it…there’s so many different alleys I could go with a degree in it. I also liked it because it’s becoming a bigger issue nowadays,” she said.
A force of energy and unpredictability in the pubs room, Hannah tends to be clumsy at admittedly inopportune moments. “Mr. Beaton was here last year, and he had his little walker, and I tripped in mid-air right in front of him while he was on the walker. And he couldn’t even reach down to help me,” she said.
Despite her less-than-graceful comportment, Hannah contends that it does not reflect her intellectual prowess. “I want the world to know that I’m not a dumb blonde,” she said.
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on May 24, 2024
