The unexpected comfort of a snow tunnel By: JAXYN CLOUD student reporter
The most surprising warmth comes from the most unexpected places, like the snow.
If ever caught in a snowstorm, one option would be to build a snow tunnel and burrow into it to keep comfortable.
Dr. Jenny Sattler, the current chair of physical science at NWOSU, can attest to that fact.
“My dad dared me and my brother to sleep in a snow tunnel,” Sattler said. “It actually gets quite warm.”
Sattler’s father helped her and her brother, Daniel, build a safe and secure snow tunnel to use as a bed one night, not because they were in danger, but because he took the time to instill a sense of adventure and love of the Earth in his children.
Sattler doesn’t get much experience with snow tunnels anymore since she moved to Alva, Oklahoma to teach at Northwestern.
Growing up in Minot, North Dakota, Sattler had a lot of experience with snow and cold temperatures.
To Oklahomans, who don’t usually get to experience these winter adventures, Minot might seem like a magical place.
This is truly fitting given that Sattler’s high school’s mascot was the magicians.
Sattler’s whole family exposed her to the magic and wonder of the natural world from a young age.
Her first memory is standing in the middle of a field with her grandmother looking to the sky and observing the Northern Lights.
They were purple, and her childhood self thought they looked like people doing jazz hands in the sky.
Sattler said her father, Roger Sattler, had a huge part in her love for science.
Jenny Sattler grew up doing science experiments with her father and brother.
Even Sattler’s brother, Daniel Sattler, ended up being involved in science in his career as a chemist.
Throughout her childhood, a dare was not taken lightly.
Each dare was met with the same curiosity and dedication as their science experiments.
They valued discovery through both science and life.
This is how Sattler found herself at the top of a lighthouse with her dad, hugging the sides of the building while balancing on rickety stairs.
Sattler’s biggest fear is heights, so it was a remarkable task to climb that high while her mother sat on the ground laughing at them.
Roger was diagnosed with cancer while Sattler was training to work in a cancer clinic during her enrollment at East Carolina University.
While many would assume that this would be a very emotional thing to go through, Sattler said that cancer research was very interesting to her.
Sattler said she was drawn to teaching rather than research because she craved variety and didn’t want to do the same thing every day.
She explained that she enjoys the unpredictable nature of teaching, where new challenges and surprises arise daily.
School wasn’t always a place of enjoyment for Sattler.
She struggled with writing throughout her childhood.
She had the habit of writing certain letters backwards.
It wasn’t until later that she found out she had dyslexia, a condition that explained the challenges she had faced for years.
She was discouraged by both teachers and peers.
One teacher even said that Sattler would never be able to graduate high school.
Despite these harsh words, she proved all her doubters wrong.
She had to work harder than other students to learn.
Struggling with traditional methods, she was forced to find ways of writing that made sense to her, which included lots of practice and time.
She said she doesn’t view the world like everyone else does, and her unique perspective drives her as a teacher.
Having experienced the frustration of learning new subjects, she understands that it can be hard to learn new concepts. This struggle has made her a more patient, compassionate and effective educator.
Although Sattler has a Bachelor of Science in Physics, a Master of science in Physics, a Master of Science in Medical Physics and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Physics, she said she doesn’t consider herself smart.
She is humble and that shines through her teaching style.
“I like how enthusiastic she is about teaching us.” Janie Rempel said. “I love her classes, and I purposely choose the classes I know she is teaching.”
Rempel is a sophomore at NWOSU who is not a science major. In fact, she hasn’t even needed some of the classes she has taken with Sattler to graduate.
Rempel takes them because she finds a sense of comfort and enjoyment in Sattler’s classes.
Rempel said that Sattler is a kind spirit who truly cares about her students’ well-being.
She also said that Sattler helps her understand concepts even though she isn’t particularly passionate about science.
This is a common theme among many of Sattler’s students.
“She was easy to listen to and she always made me laugh,” said Kaylyn Aldrich, a sophomore, majoring in early childhood education.
Aldrich is another of Sattler’s students who didn’t always grasp scientific concepts.
Sattler was able to explain things to Aldrich in a way that she understood, without making her feel bad about herself.
Sattler is the teacher Aldrich said she wished she could have had growing up. Sattler has a way of speaking to people who do not speak her language.
People who have never had interest in science enjoy her classes because of the person Sattler is.
Sattler shows compassion to her students and makes them feel comfortable and at ease.
Although Dr. Sattler is extremely talented in science, her true talent lies in her ability to connect with people.
Willow Gahr, the first physics minor at NWOSU, still speaks with Sattler regularly, years after her graduation in 2018.
Gahr said her relationship with Sattler is like a mix of mentorship and friendship, and she feels like family.
Gahr had lots of classes where she was learning from Sattler one-on-one.
Gahr said Sattler had a profound impact on her life and she is extremely grateful to her.
Gahr said she admired Sattler’s hard work and how she pushes people to be their best out of a loving, genuine place.
She also said Sattler has a great sense of humor and never fails to make her laugh.
Sattler is even protective of Gahr. Gahr’s fiancé experienced this protectiveness firsthand the first time he met Sattler, when she tried to scare him off.
She wasn’t that intimidating though, because halfway through the conversation Sattler started choking on a pretzel while Mary Riegel tried to “beat it out of her.”
Willow Gahr, Sattler and Riegel share many fond memories together. Sattler isn’t just a great professor.
Her colleagues also think very highly of her. Riegel, a professor of mathematics at NWOSU, and Sattler have a rare friendship.
Riegal and Sattler were sent on a road trip to Lubbock, Texas for the NWOSU robotics program.
This is where their friendship started. They were both new to Northwestern at the time and they have remained close friends since.
Riegal and Sattler found support in each other and 12 years later they still do. Whether they eat dinner, watch movies or crochet, they always find ways to enjoy each other’s company.
Sattler has even befriended Riegel’s parents and she talks to Riegel’s mother multiple times each week, deepening their close-knit friendship.
“It’s closer to being sisters at this point in time than being friends,” Riegal said. “She’s family and we support each other however we can.”
Riegal and Sattler are also co-directors of the robotics program and science fair.
They have lots of overlapping activities that allow them to support the university and students while enjoying each other’s company.
Most students don’t go into their science class expecting to befriend their professor.
Riegel didn’t expect a random robotics roadtrip to end in a twelve-year friendship.
Much like the snow tunnel, Jenny Sattler provides comfort that is not expected.
Jennifer Sattler helps Ava Carr put a luggage tag on a bag as she prepares for a study abroad trip to Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom as part of the Brad Henry international scholars program.
Dr. Jenny Sattler helps plan some events on campus including the BEST Robotics that is seen above. Other events Sattler helps with are the science fair and the study abroad program.