Scholarship helps CSE student show creative side

Zoe Bohnen never planned to be a Gopher. Then one day she got a phone call that changed her life.

“Mr. [Roger] Haxby contacted me and said he was interested in supporting my education at the University of Minnesota,” Zoe said. After touring campus, she decided to attend the U of M and study mechanical engineering.

Zoe received the Haxby Scholarship, which is awarded to students from the St. Cloud, Minn., area. “I am very blessed and honored to have Mr. Haxby’s support,” she said. “He has been a really big mentor to me.”

“I really enjoy doing things that play to different strengths. MinnProv lets me show my creative side.”

- Zoe Bohnen

Changing a big decision like where to attend college might seem daunting to most, but Zoe is used to going with the flow. In fact, she is a member of MinnProv, the University’s premiere improvisational comedy team.

“I really enjoy doing things that play to different strengths,” she said. “MinnProv lets me show my creative side.”

Zoe says her MinnProv experience also gives her useful skills for College of Science and Engineering classes.

“In the sciences, we’ve been trained to find the one solution to a problem,” Zoe explained. “The world isn’t black and white. Improv has really helped with thinking outside the box.”

Zoe credits the Haxby Scholarship for allowing her to be involved with activities such as MinnProv.

“The funds have made it so I don’t have to take on a full-time job,” Zoe said. “I’m not stressed about money. It has given me so many opportunities to explore, create, and travel.”