Student Profile - Elizabeth Krause

Name: Elizabeth Krause
Major: Horticulture
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Moorhead, MN
Graduation Date: Spring 2024

Why did you choose NDSU?

NDSU had by far the best horticulture program of the colleges I looked at. I also wanted to do undergraduate research, and NDSU has a lot of opportunities. I came to campus when I was a senior in high school, sat in on a class and met some of the plant science professors. That’s when I made my final decision.

Why did you select the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources?

I didn’t grow up on a farm, but my family always had a garden which has been my responsibility since middle school when I used it for my science fair project. I have known for a while that I wanted to work with plants, so the college was a natural fit.

Scholarships you have received and why scholarships are important to you.

I received the Vernon E. Wendlandt Scholarship and Mainline Potato Company, Inc. Scholarship.  Scholarships are important to me because I haven’t had to go into debt to pay for my education. I feel this has made my future a bit more secure. I also appreciate that people who share an interest in agriculture are willing to help me learn more about it. The support is humbling in a good way.

Clubs/organizations you’re involved in and why involvement in activities is beneficial.

I’m a member of the Horticulture Club. The plant sales we hold are a great opportunity to learn how some parts of the horticulture industry work. However, one of the nice things about organizations on campus is that you can explore interests outside of your major. I’m in Lutheran Student Fellowship (LSF). We do Bible studies each week, and during spring break we went on a Habitat for Humanity service trip to Iowa. I also play the violin in our university orchestra, which is technically a class, but it always feels more like an extracurricular because it’s so fun.

List any internships and a brief description of what you did.

I started with NDSU Potato Research the summer before my freshman year, so it was among my first experiences at NDSU. I have been involved in several aspects of researching potatoes such as planting, gathering data, working in the greenhouse, harvesting, and learning all about what makes a good potato variety.

What is your greatest memory at NDSU?

It’s too hard to pick one greatest memory, so I’ll just mention one of my favorites. Last year in lab I had Dr. Chiwon Lee and he had us practice the different propagation methods.

What are your future plans?

I am definitely thinking about attending graduate school in research or breeding.