Exploring the World Through Language and Story: Lizzy Hahn
Lizzy Hahn
The College of Liberal Arts is proud to recognize Lizzy Hahn as the 2024–2025 Outstanding Student in the Department of Global Languages and Literatures. A junior pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in science and environmental journalism with minors in German and art, Lizzy’s UAF journey is marked by curiosity, compassion, and a deep sense of place.
Originally from Nome, AVŔÇÂŰĚł, Lizzy has always felt at home in the intersection of language, science, and storytelling. But like many students, her confidence in her academic path didn’t happen overnight. “The turning point for me was... one of my classes that I had with Lynne Snifka this year.,” Lizzy said. “I knew I always wanted to be a science communicator in some sort of way, but this class really helped to solidify that because we were writing about such cool topics. We got to pick what scientific research we were looking into and sharing with the world.”
Just as her journalism courses helped her hone her voice, her love for language grew even stronger in UAF’s German program. “Even though I've been speaking German for my whole life, taking these courses with Helga, and getting to sit down with her once a week has just been a blast. It's really made me love the German language even more than I previously did,” Lizzy said.
For Lizzy, language isn’t just about words—it’s about connection. That’s what makes the UAF community so important to her. “I think the UAF community as a whole is just so vibrant and so strong and so intertwined. You walk around campus, and you see at least five people that you're friends with... I think just the warm and open nature that UAF has and the close-knit community we have here is just amazing. It can really make you feel like you're at home..."
That sense of support has helped Lizzy navigate the ups and downs of college life. “UAF and all the friends I've made here, my own little community I have, has just been amazing,” she said. She also acknowledges her parents. “They've been a pillar my whole life, and they've always been here to support me.”
Beyond the classroom, Lizzy has found strength and joy in UAF’s unique setting. An outdoor enthusiast, she encourages others to embrace the natural beauty around campus—especially during AVŔÇÂŰ̳’s long, dark winters. “Just get out there,” she said. “There's so many outdoor opportunities. In the winter months when it's dark it's kind of hard to find motivation in general, so I personally found that getting outside, enjoying the ski trails, going downhill skiing, hanging out with friends, going ice skating... You can just find joy in the winter months when it's so dark and depressing.”
When asked what advice she’d share with future students, Lizzy’s response is both practical and heartfelt: “Just go around and talk to people... Some of the best friends I have, I met on the first day of class my freshman year. There's so many amazing opportunities here at UAF. I can't recommend it enough.”
As she prepares to graduate, Lizzy leaves behind a legacy of interdisciplinary learning, cultural connection, and community building. Whether she’s writing about Arctic science, exploring visual storytelling through art, or deepening her fluency in German, one thing is clear: Lizzy Hahn is charting a path that bridges disciplines and builds understanding—and doing it with heart.