Magnet: Orchestra

Ms. Shandi Schlegel is a Stivers School for the Arts Alumna from the Class of 2009. Her love for math and encouragement from a teacher propelled Shandi to study mechanical engineering. Once Shandi has an engineering degree under her belt, she plans to enter cosmetology school and dreams of inheriting ownership of an engineering firm.

Shandi is a junior mechanical engineering major at Wright State University. As a high school sophomore, Ms. Sorrell encouraged Shandi to attend WSU’s Summer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, amd Math) Program. Shandi says that she absolutely loves math and “didn’t want to pass an opportunity to learn more.” Shandi will finish out her degree at Kent State next year after she moves to Aurora, Ohio, with her boyfriend, Richard. She also hopes to work for and someday inherit Richard’s family’s aerospace engineering firm.

In addition to her aptitude in engineering, Shandi also has a penchant for style and plans to pursue a cosmetology degree after graduation. “I’ve never heard of an engineering student going for a cosmetology degree,” says Shandi. “From working at Ulta Beauty and Sally Beauty Group, I have developed such an interest in [cosmetology]. I want to do two things that I enjoy: makeup and hair, and engineering.”

How does Shandi balance engineering with cosmetology? “Girls can be pretty and smart,” Shandi says. “I’m the ditzy, blonde girl who wears too much pink but walks into an engineering class or calculus class with her head held high to prove that women are more capable that society thinks we are.” And Shandi sure is proving herself – one of her proudest accomplishments since graduating from Stivers was earning a B in Calculus 3, a class that is notorious for its rigor.

Shandi credits Stivers with giving her a strong foundation for college. “Stivers gave me a very good education. I was able to go straight into calculus classes [at Wright State] and didn’t have to take any developmental English classes.” Shandi is grateful to Ms. Sorrell (“telling me about that program changed my life!”) and Mr. Asadorian (“thank heavens for Ace!”) for helping her discover her strengths and interests.

We asked Shandi what advice she would give to current Stivers seniors interested in pursuing engineering: “Engineering is hard work,” she says, “but if it is what you want to do, don’t let anyone stop you.” Shandi would like to let all Stivers students know about the wealth of opportunities in engineering and get students interested in math and science earlier in their high school career.

Shandi is the first Stivers School for the Arts alum to be featured in the Alumni Spotlight. Check back weekly for more exciting stories from exceptional Stivers grads!