When I was a junior in high school, we were asked what we wanted to do with our lives. I always knew I wanted to be a music teacher, but, at the time, I didn’t know AU existed. I looked into Wooster College, Bowling Green State, even Capital, and thought I would be a Wooster Fighting Scot. One day, our choir was asked to perform with the AU choir and the moment I stepped onto campus something just clicked. I fell in love with the choral program, I instantly loved the small community, and the distance wasn't too far from home. After that day, I came back for a few more college visits and, next thing I know, I'm auditioning to be in the program. Three years later, I've made so many friends who've been with me through good and bad, I've had some amazing professors and I even have a job on campus that I absolutely love. If I hadn't come to Ashland, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I can't imagine my life as somebody else.
I came to Ashland University with my whole future planned out. Once I got here, though, I found out my life was meant for so much more. I fell in love with the campus, the culture, the friendships and all the little adventures that I found here. All of those things—and more!— made AU the place for me. The opportunities AU offers in terms of academics were a real winner for me. Having the support to strive for a triple major, with hopes of acquiring a few more degrees in the future, would not be feasible anywhere else. Why I came to Ashland and why I plan to stay has everything to do with Ashland University!
The year I started at Ashland was 1998. I was moving my things into Kem with my dad for my freshman year and internally freaking out. I remember seeing this guy in the parking lot. He was so handsome! That year we became friends and were in band together.
The following year, he started asking me out. He would leave messages on my phone, send me letters and find me after class. After a month of this, I asked, “If I go on one date with you will you just leave me alone?” That one date has turned into 14 years of marriage and we now have wonderful 4-year-old twin boys. I think back on that day and believe it was love at first sight.
With a strong desire to study and teach music, I started Ashland (College, at the time) with very little financial help from my family. I was directed to the Brethren Publishing Company, where I had a part-time job for three and a half years as a proof-reader under the direction of editor St. Clair Benshoff. I also borrowed money from the bank and I lived with relatives. My encouragement came from the faculty in the music department—Calvin Rogers, Robert Frolich and Elizabeth Pastor. Upon graduation I was hired by the Mount Vernon Schools to teach stringed instruments and recorders. I continued to communicate with my professors after graduation and always received a great deal of encouragement and support from my alma mater. I also received an enormous amount of support in my spiritual life during my time at Ashland.
I was attracted to Ashland University through my cousin Tom Schiefer, an AU alum who truly bleeds purple and gold. One evening, while soul-searching in Kansas City with my wife, we contemplated if we would ever leave KC. We decided that if AU is even partially as great as Tom says it is, I'd apply for the Director of Admissions position if it ever became available. The very next morning, I checked online and I saw the position had just been posted. Fortunately, I was awarded the position, and now, seven years later, I not only feel this was a great move for our family, but I will also have my oldest son enrolled at AU this fall!
I was on the SUBG. In fact, I coined that acronym for the Student Union Board of Governors. I was also Treasurer of the student senate, so I was in charge of booking concerts. A group of us went to Memphis to the Peabody Hotel for a talent showcase. I went to bed early, but I could still hear some incredible music from the main auditorium. So, I got dressed and went down to listen to an amazing unknown band. I found our promoter and told him I wanted to book them, but they wanted a bunch of bucks for an unknown band: $7,500! (That was a lot in 1969-70.) The promoter said we could do two things to mitigate the risk: book them in conjunction with the college of Wooster and book the concert a year down the road.
By the time they played our gig they were the highest paid most popular band in the US, commanding fees of $40,000. But, they honored the contract and did the most amazing concert I’d ever heard. We made so much money. Concerts were virtually free for both colleges for the rest of the year. It still amazes me: I booked Chicago for $3,750!
I always tell people that God took me to Ashland because He wanted me to learn more about what it was to truly live for Him. And in the process, I earned my early childhood education license. I have so many beautiful memories from AU, from being involved in Religious Life groups to being an RA, to learning how to teach from some exceptional educators, to building incredible friendships with people with whom, to this day, I still share some of my favorite memories. Those memories include hanging out in the “alone room with God,” laughing with my best friend for hours after FCA and enjoying visits from my brother and sister on Lil Sibs weekends. I remember creating a “Mingo” walk around campus after “borrowing” some pink plastic flamingos, spending hours talking with friends at Convo, and going on my very first of many missions trips with HOPE Fellowship. I remember having dinner over at the Rineharts, who I invested so much more into people than simply knowledge, creating fun programs in one of the buildings where I was a resident assistant, and “studying” on one of the red leather chairs at the student center that we always dreamed of taking back to our rooms. I remember listening to powerful and enlightening speakers such as Eli Wiesel and other Holocaust survivors, playing in the fountain after dark and even waking up at September 11th when the world we lived in was changed forever.
Every memory I made involved other beautiful individuals that I may not talk to much anymore, but who played such a vital role in helping me become the person I am today. I always tell people that God sent me to AU because I was supposed to be an Eagle...at the last minute, I chickened out of going to another college far away from home where I would not know anyone. Ashland was a little closer to home and full of many high school friends, and this ended up being one of the best decisions of my life. God used my weaknesses to mold me, use me, enlighten me and show me who I am. I will forever be grateful for the people of Ashland, the relationships I was blessed to make and the opportunities I was afforded. Not to mention the fact that, along the way, I learned how to be a teacher and, 18 years later, I still love what I do! I always think fondly of my formative years at Ashland University.
Due to being a football player, I always had access to the field. I used to go out there at night to study or run—or even just to think. I remember one night, just laying out on the 50-yard line, thinking about my future and watching the stars. It’s one of my first thoughts when I think about my time at Ashland.
Our story began with literally running smack into each other. As we were clearing out of Convo during orientation weekend, Danielle Hart (Pietic) and I bumped into each other in the aisle. Both apologizing, we walked together to the next session. I kept seeing her all day and we talked a little. We ended up exchanging emails and kept in contact over the summer. Eventually, it seemed like a good idea to room together freshman year. That year turned into three more years after that and we’ve been friends ever since! She’s made such a difference in my life and I can’t imagine not having her as a friend.
