What are some of your favorite memories from your time at the University of Iowa?
Most people can share college memories about friends, sporting events, classes, professors, and parties that spring easily to mind. I might take this opportunity to offer a more unusual memory. My freshman year I lived on the 11th floor of the Slater dormitory. Every Wednesday evening I would return home after a late class on the other side of campus. The bus system was available, I had friends who drove, and I easily could have rode my bike. Yet, for an entire year I would walk across the Iowa River with the lit Old Capitol Dome at my back. It could be a peaceful autumn evening, a frigid winter trek, or a stroll through fresh spring air. For me, it was always calming, a chance to clear my head, and for some reason the memory of those walks still sticks firmly in my head.
In what ways did you challenge yourself (conventionally or otherwise) in your undergraduate studies and beyond?
Many undergraduate students are afforded opportunities to engage in research during their formative academic years. For me, however, a research opportunity opened the door for me to understand discovery and unlocked my capacity for learning. Within the anthropology department I took on a project exploring trade patterns in ancient cultures using elemental analysis of pottery samples. Rarely was I confident in myself during this project, but to be part of the explorative process was more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.
Tell us about something fun or unusual you were involved in at Iowa!
During my time at the University of Iowa I became a member of the Spirit Squad. This group of cheerleaders, dancers, and mascots represented the University at community gatherings, athletic competitions, and events across the region. It was a tremendous honor to be a part of such a special group of individuals. Whether inside the walls of historic Kinnick Stadium, visiting a sick child, or helping a fan celebrate at a wedding hours away; it was easy to see the Iowa pride.
What’s something you wish you had known/done as an undergraduate student?
This may not be the desired answer when speaking about an academic scholarship, but I would not have taken my test scores and course grades so seriously. After a single year in the workforce the GPA no longer seemed to matter. Why then was I stressing over every point in every class each semester? Enjoy the experience and embrace all of the opportunities that are available to you as a student at the University of Iowa. I wish I had taken more time to explore courses that fascinated me, to attend lectures on critical issues, watch theatrical performances, or create more friendships. I spent too much of my young life beholden to a plan focused exclusively on academic achievement. The day after I graduated the entire plan changed completely. Life is ours to live and there is no better time than during the college experience.
Describe your role/experience with the Minnesota Vikings.
I am currently finishing my 12th season as a member of the Minnesota Vikings organization. I have worked in many areas of the business including marketing, entertainment, production, and community. I have always valued the opportunity to use the platform of the Vikings and the National Football League to create positive impact on our community. It is not often in this world that someone has a captive audience of 66,000 people and to leverage this opportunity to create change in our society is something I cherish every day of my job.
Reflecting on your time at Iowa and life after graduation, how did the Presidential Scholarship impact your life as a student at Iowa, and how has it impacted your life beyond Iowa?
The Presidential Scholarship was a blessing for so many reasons. The financial support was unimaginable and forever altered the course of my life. However, it is the friendships and life experiences afforded to me through the Presidential Scholarship program that I will always hold most dear.
Looking back, did you expect to be where you are now? If not, reflect on how you navigate “the unexpected” in your life.
I never expected to be where I am today. It is hard as a college freshman to fully grasp the myriad possibilities that lay before you. At every turn during my college experience I was faced with choices that shaped the life I would lead and the person that I would become. I often wonder how life would have turned out if I had made different decisions. As I reflect, I wouldn’t change a thing. It is these experiences that made me the person I am today for better or worse. Lead with your heart, your passion, your desire, and you can never truly be led astray.