What led you to apply for the US Naval Academy?

As a high school senior, the US Naval Academy presented the opportunity for me to serve my country, challenge myself, and join an organization bigger than myself. The mission statement of the US Naval Academy really attracted me and embodied a lot of what I valued. The mission of the Naval Academy is “To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.“

Additionally, my cousin graduated from West Point in 2013 and his example greatly inspired me and put the service academies on my radar. At Pius, I enjoyed participating in sports, volunteering and challenging myself in the classroom. The US Naval Academy offered the continuation of these interests with the goal of serving others and America. I have always loved the quote by the runner Steve Prefontaine: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” I saw my attendance at the Naval Academy as an educational opportunity where I could give my best in challenging myself in my development with a student body of similarly minded future officers and leaders who share the desire to serve others.

What is your current title?

I am a Midshipman First Class of the United States Naval Academy and it is often abbreviated as MIDN 1/C Natalie Schieuer.

How has your work in the Naval Academy impacted you?

My work at the Naval Academy has greatly impacted me. As a Mechanical Engineering major, I have been challenged in the classroom through a rigorous course load, projects, and undergraduate research through the Bowman Scholar program, the Trident Scholar program, and the Capstone program for senior students. Through summer trainings and other trips, I have been blessed to be able to visit places such as Spain, Japan, Guam, Uganda, and Ecuador. We host several interesting conferences such as the Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference and the Leadership Conference that I have been fortunate enough to participate in and I have listened to various speakers that come to the Academy, such as President Biden, Senator McCain, Mayor Bloomberg, and the Honorable Madeleine Albright.

What will you be doing after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy?

I am hoping to attend graduate school immediately after graduation. After graduate school, I will enter the Fleet and serve as a Naval Officer.

What further education would you like to pursue?

I would like to pursue a masters in Energy Technologies studying the application of piezoelectric materials to energy harvesting. My current undergraduate research focuses on optimizing the location and size of a system of piezoelectric actuators used to wirelessly transfer electrical power via transduction from electrical voltage to mechanical vibrations and back to electrical voltage. I plan to expand on this research in graduate school by studying the application of piezoelectric materials as energy harvesters. As energy harvesters, piezoelectric materials collect ambient vibrational energy from the environment that can be converted into usable electrical energy to power sensors and devices of critical importance to the Navy, as well as civilian applications. The research of piezoelectric materials and their energy harvesting applications directly relates to my future naval service because naval vessels have a plethora of machines and engines that dissipate vibrational energy to the environment most often in the form of wasted energy.

How does your faith play into your role?

My faith provides the purpose and meaning to my life. I am beyond thankful for the formation I received at St. Joseph Catholic School and Lincoln Pius X. These experiences instilled in me at an early age the idea of stewardship and using the time, talents, and treasure to honor and share for the glory of God. At the Naval Academy, I have been developing the gifts God has given me with the purpose of serving America and protecting our freedom and democracy. I fondly recall my fifth grade teacher, Sister Mary Guadalupe, summarizing our purpose on earth: to know God, to serve God and to love God. The Naval Academy offers many opportunities for people of all religious backgrounds to practice their faith and I am very thankful for the opportunities I have had to attend daily Mass, teach Sunday School, visit the National Basilica in DC, and attend many retreats. We have a Catholic Midshipmen Club that meets weekly and FOCUS has an active presence on our campus. One highlight from this past semester was a visit from Bishop Barron.

How do you see your work/career evolving?

At this stage of my life, it is hard to know how long I will say in the Navy. So far, I have absolutely loved my time and I am looking forward with enthusiasm and excitement to the challenges, adventures, and journeys that await me after graduation. I think eventually I would like to serve as a teacher, which is something I could do while in the Navy.

What initiatives or projects are you hoping to start or finish in the coming years?

Right now, I am focused on finishing my two research projects. One being the research I am doing on piezoelectric materials and their application as a means for wireless power transfer. The second is my research on the integration of biological sensing devices to the F-35 Helmet used by pilots.

What has been your greatest achievement since leaving Pius in 2017?

My greatest achievement since leaving Pius in 2017 has been the lifelong friendships I have made with people from across the country and the world through my time at the US Naval Academy. The Academy has students from every state as well as several international students and I am so grateful for the amazing people I have met here. I was blessed to study abroad at the Spanish Naval Academy in Galicia, Spain and keep in touch with the midshipmen I met still. With these friendships, I have enjoyed sharing the fond memories I have of growing up in Nebraska and our state’s culture of work ethic and friendliness.

When not working, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing?

When not working, I enjoy participating in the Gospel Choir, Catholic Choir, Catholic Midshipmen Club, teaching Sunday School, participating in Bible Studies, tutoring, running and reading. I also am a member of the Navy Endurance Team. We work out together each day and have completed events such as a Half Ironman, the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC, the Bonefrog Navy SEAL Obstacle race and a 50 Mile Go Ruck Challenge in New York City.

What kind of impact has Pius X had on your life?

Pius X has had a tremendous impact on my life. Most importantly, Pius X instilled in me a solid Faith formation, both in the classroom and with the lifelong friendships I made. Secondly, Pius X blessed me with an amazing education that has helped me tremendously with my classes at the Naval Academy. I am very grateful for all of the teachers I had in my four years at Pius X. They saw their service as a teacher as a vocation and were not only great instructors, but were also great role models. My four years of Spanish from Lincoln Pius X provided a great foundation for college Spanish and studying abroad in Spain. The PACE class (AP Physics and AP Calculus) taught by Mr. Scheffler most significantly helped my current studies as a Mechanical Engineering major.

What memories do you have of Pius X High School?

I have many fond memories of Pius X High School including attending All School Mass in the new gym, going to the sweat dances in the old gym, Paint Yourself Silly Football games, biking to school as our senior prank, bus rides to sporting events and cross-country pasta feeds in the Commons. I am so thankful for my time at Pius X High School and the four years I had there.