Michaela Pfeifer, founder and president of the Century High School Sierra Club, has led initiatives for environmental protection, including replacing incandescent lightbulbs with CFLs in low-income households. As a student at Bethel University, she is pursuing biokinetics and music, while advocating for sustainability and building awareness through various projects and mentorship experiences. She envisions a future where science contributes to a healthier environment and hopes to inspire incoming students to engage actively in school activities.

1. The National Society of High School Scholars
Learn. Lead. Change the World.
www.nshss.org

2. Q&A with

3. Q&A with
Michaela Pfeifer

4. As founder and president of the Century
High School Sierra Club in Rochester,
MN, Michaela Pfeifer assisted in fulfilling
the club’s mission of environmental
protection and conservation by
spearheading an initiative to replace
incandescent lightbulbs with more energy
efficient CFL lightbulbs in lower income
households. Michaela is currently a
student at Bethel University in St. Paul,
where she is majoring in Biokinetics and
Music.

5. 1. Tell us about how you became interested in environmental protection
and conservation.

6. 1. Tell us about how you became interested in environmental protection
and conservation.
My interest in the well-being of the environment evolved over time, and was triggered by my running cross
country in my junior high years, and later through high school, continuing into college. I ran my best and felt
most fulfilled when I ran in the open appreciating the exhilaration of breathing fresh clean air while running
along pristine trails. I began noticing debris on the paths and in practicing for triathlons, I knew when I was
in a dirty lake. These emotions, sensations, sights, sounds and scents brought me in synch with my
surroundings. I realized how important it was that the air be crisp and clean, the ground unlittered, and the
water clear and unpolluted. What I realized was that
while running cross country was an absolute passion for me, it was a passion that could
only be sustained if the environment was sustained. This is a sentiment that has only
grown stronger through the years.

7. 2. If there were one thing you could predict about the future of science, what would it be?

8. 2. If there were one thing you could predict about the future of science, what would it be?
We are gradually making adjustments to try and slow climate change, and my prediction for the future of
science will be a healthy sustainable environment where all living things exist and flourish as they were
meant to. I hope that my CFL lightbulb project played some small role in this, by
replacing incandescent lightbulbs with more energy efficient CFL lightbulbs, thus
reducing energy consumption and carbon production with an outcome of less
air pollution.

9. 3. If there were one thing you could have in the
classroom that you don’t currently, what would
it be?

10. 3. If there were one thing you could have in the
classroom that you don’t currently, what would
it be?
Recycle bins in the classrooms! Having recycle
bins in smaller spaces will make students more
aware of the process of recycling, and place this
in the forefront of their minds as they grow older.
It is in our formative years that good habits can
be most easily established.

11. 4. Tell us about your favorite teacher, how have they supported or
inspired you?

12. 4. Tell us about your favorite teacher, how have they supported or
inspired you?
I completed a high school mentorship my junior year
of high school under the direction of Dr. Prachi Singh
of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. My project focused on
the area of fat biology. I worked on substances like leptin
and adioponectin that are produced by fat cells, and learned
techniques in cell culture and Western blot analysis.
This past summer I received an Undergraduate
Fellowship Award from the American
Physiological Society and mentored again with
Dr. Prachi Singh, studying anti-diabetes drugs
and the expression of caveolin I hope to have
the opportunity to present my summer
tesearch study at the Experimental Biology
meeting in San Diego next year. I see Dr. Singh
as a role model and mentor and appreciate her
taking the time to introduce me so early in
high school to the scientific process. She is a
rigorous, precise, and deliberate scientist who
has achieved much in her early career and has
been a great inspiration to me.

13. 5. How has NSHSS played a role in your
academic career?

14. 5. How has NSHSS played a role in your
academic career?
I received the Earth Day Award for my
environmental CFL lightbulb project.
This recognition helped deepen my
passion to pursue further my education
in the sciences, and has inspired me to
continue to find novel ways in which I
and others can help support a healthier
planet.

15. 6. What is your fondest memory related
to your advocacy, thus far?

16. 6. What is your fondest memory related
to your advocacy, thus far?
While I am pleased that my project
helped to reduce energy
consumption/production, very
memorable for me was at the same time
helping the economically challenged
families by replacing incandescent
lightbulbs in their home with the CFL
lightbulbs, lowering their electric costs
and at the same time helping to keep
our planet healthy. If I can add a second
item, it would be that the Century High
School Sierra Club, which I started
several years ago, continues to survive
and thrive.

17. 7. Where do you see yourself
in 10 years?

18. 7. Where do you see yourself
in 10 years?
In 10 years I would like to say
I will have a degree in
science with a major in
Biokinetics, while I continue
acquiring training and
understanding in hypothesis-
driven biological research.
And oh yes, still running!

19. 8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

20. 8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I would like to say I will have a degree in science
with a major in Biokinetics, while I continue acquiring training
and understanding in hypothesis-driven biological research.
And oh yes, still running!

21. 9. What do you hope for this year’s incoming freshman class?

22. 9. What do you hope for this year’s incoming freshman class?
I want them to come in with excitement and enthusiasm, and get involved.
Participation in the school’s clubs and group activities are a wonderful way to
settle in and make great friends. I hope they set high goals for themselves,
challenge themselves academically, put in the time to study, and adopt a
healthy and balanced routine of exercise, sleep, study and play.

23. 10. Outside of your environmental advocacy
involvement, what has been your favorite / most
enjoyable aspect of high school?

24. 10. Outside of your environmental advocacy
involvement, what has been your favorite / most
enjoyable aspect of high school?
Easily the varsity cross country and track team and my
participation in music and performance in pop
performing groups, a cappella, and classical voice
competition. I also started the Sierra Club in my high
school, which was also an exciting, instructive and
rewarding experience.

25. 11. What do you do to stay
organized / focused?

26. 11. What do you do to stay
organized / focused?
Taking in the fresh air outdoors
while running the trails and
feeling the wind in my face clears
my head, helps me think, and
makes me grateful for the rest of
my day.

27. 12. How do you relax? What’s your favorite hobby?

28. 12. How do you relax? What’s your favorite hobby?
I’m also majoring in music and to relax, as a soprano, I enjoy singing, performing and
playing piano. These help me release any built-up anxiety/tension. International travel
is my favorite leisure time activity.

29. 13. Do you have a motto? If so, what is it?

30. 13. Do you have a motto? If so, what is it?
“To give anything less than your best, is to
sacrifice the gift.”
– Steve Prefontaine