With graduation looming, Brian Schubert '09 has a lot to look back and reflect upon. The management major from Norwalk, Ohio, has accomplished a great deal in his time at Wittenberg, and he has given as much as he has received.
"I believe that to those to whom much is given, much is expected," Schubert said. "I've tried to live that statement."
Dedicated to helping Springfield Christian Youth Ministries, Schubert has also worked with PrimeTime and Campus Ministries, as well as an intern at Mercy Hospital. Schubert has definitely given more than what could be expected of a college student. If that weren't enough, he has also spent his last three spring breaks working on hurricane relief efforts along the Gulf Coast.
"Seeing someone who has just lost everything is really hard, but being able to help is awesome," Schubert said.
Besides these service activities, Schubert has also explored his potential with his involvement in College Republicans, Honor Council and through an internship with the Wittenberg Center for Applied Management (WittCAM) in which he worked with a local church. He has also worked in the Office of University Communications, researching what attracts students to Wittenberg.
"I think I've gained from seeing other people's views, and I know that my views have changed," Schubert said.
The decision to come to Wittenberg was an easy one as both of Schubert's parents are among the university's 26,000-plus alumni. That's not the only reason he made the decision, however.
"I chose Witt because I felt at home when I was on campus," Schubert said. "I truly believe that my calling was to be here for these four years."
Wittenberg and the Springfield community have benefited from Schubert's college choice again and again. He has served Wittenberg as a member of the university's Strategic Plan Task Force, Goal F-1, a committee that formulated the plans for the recently opened Center for Civic & Urban Engagement. His involvement in the task force led to involvement in a summer intern program that produced the "Oh! Springfield" campaign, a proposed marketing campaign to celebrate the many positive qualities of the community Wittenberg calls home.
With his extensive engagement in campus life, Schubert was bound to rub elbows with some of Wittenberg's finest faculty members. As a child Schubert always knew he wanted to go into business, and when he met Professor of Management Pamela Schindler, he knew his dreams would become reality.
"[She] has guided me as a future marketer. I know my resume would be half its length without her constantly pushing me to work harder," Schubert said.
Schubert loves the close personal relationships he has been able to develop with Wittenberg faculty and staff members.
"I have had several once-in-a-lifetime opportunities at Witt, and some of the biggest learning opportunities have come from the personal attention of faculty and staff," Schubert said.
In a few short months, Schubert will take his first steps into the real world. He is already a bit nostalgic.
"I don't know that I'll ever be ready to graduate; it's going to be hard to leave my best friends and make a life somewhere else," Schubert said. "These have been four wonderful years and that's hard to put into words."
- Written by Ronni Appenbrink '09
- Photo by Erin Pence
