On any given day at Smith College in Massachusetts, you can find Ally Knutson, Bay Port 2023, in the chemistry lab or on the softball field. Ally is a captain on the softball team, and was named to the 2026 NFCA Division III Player of the Year Watchlist. While Ally is proud of her accomplishments as an NCAA athlete, she is equally proud of her chemistry research.

Ally is majoring in chemistry and astronomy at Smith. She works in a surface chemistry lab, which is a branch of physical chemistry that studies processes that occur at a boundary between two interfaces. “We work with silicon wafers and deposit functionalized poly-pentafluorophenyl acrylate, which is basically a customizable polymer that allows us to alter the properties of our surfaces,” said Ally. “Research at Smith is very rewarding and I will be starting my honors thesis this August!”

She believes her experience at Bay Port helped her succeed in college and achieve her goals. “My teachers and coaches always pushed me to be my best,” said Ally. “Because of Bay Port, I came to college already able to manage my time efficiently and have a strong work ethic. The writing and test-taking skills I learned in the IB Program are integral to success in the classroom here at Smith, while the top-notch coaching at Bay Port prepared me for the field!”

After college, Ally plans to attend graduate school for a PhD in physical chemistry. Her eventual goal is to work in research and development. Congratulations, Ally! #PiratePride