Hans

Activities

• Illini Pride – This group supports all 19 varsity athletic sports and provides a way for students to cheer on their Fighting Illini, donate money to support the community, and meet new people

Where is your favorite spot on campus to study?

When the weather allows it, I enjoy studying on Union patio, overlooking the Quad.

Where is your favorite spot on campus to hang out with your friends?

Green Street because it has such a wide range of opportunities for things to do, such as restaurants in which to enjoy a meal, bars to drink at, or stores to pick up a few groceries for the apartment.

Where is your favorite spot on campus to relax?

For me it would have to be IMPE (IntraMural Physical Education building). Working out is a great way for me to relax and get rid of any stress I am feeling.

What is your favorite club or organization on campus that you are involved with?

Illini Pride. It is the largest RSO (registered student organization) on campus and is a great way to meet people when you first arrive here. It also gives you a chance to support all of our varsity athletic teams and get up close and personal with the players and coaches, who really appreciate the work that we do cheering them to victory.

What do you like most about your major?

It is flexible. For someone who is not completely sure what they want to do when they graduate,  a degree in RST will leave you with a lot of options. Another thing that I like is that it is relatively small so you don't get lost in the crowd when it comes to meeting with your advisor. You are not just another face to them, they know who you are and can better serve you as a student when you call on them for assistance.

What are your favorite courses within your major?

Recreation, Sport, and Tourism 130: Introduction to Sport Management  and Recreation, Sport, and Tourism 255: Ethical Issues of Sport. I enjoy both of these courses partly because they are sport management related, my concentration, but mostly because they are taught by Dr. Michael Raycraft who I have found to be a very profound instructor who is energized by his field of study and loves teaching it to young people.

What are your favorite extra curricular activities related to your major?

My favorite activity related to my major would be working as an equipment manager for the football team. I started volunteering during my sophomore year and have been doing it ever since. I have been able to use it to get a better understanding of what is required to work in a sport management field. I have also been able to build on my social network by introducing myself to people who may be able to refer me for a job at some point in the future.

What are your favorite extra curricular activities NOT related to your major?

Leadershape. Leadershape is a leadership retreat that you have to apply for admission to that meets for a week during your winter or summer break. It meets at a university-owned mansion about 45 minutes off campus with approximately 60 students who are leaders on campus for student organizations, jobs, fraternities/sororities, or within their college. These students work on various ways to improve our community and lead with integrity. After the week is up, we all come back to campus and continue to meet, informally, about once a month to discuss how we can make the campus better. I met a lot of influential people during this week, including one of the facilitators who is now a mentor of mine and a friend.

Describe your most memorable experience at Illinois.

My most memorable experience here at the University of Illinois is actually a series of experiences; our Men's Basketball team's run to the Final Four during my sophomore year. It started with the December 1, 2004 destruction of then ranked #1 Wake Forest and continued through April where I was on-hand at the Final Four, in the Edward Jones Dome, to witness our win against Louisville and ultimately our loss to UNC. That season really brought this campus and the University of Illinois community together as you could see orange and blue from coast to coast.

Why do you belong at Illinois?

After my first semester on campus, I knew this was where I belong. The people I have met here, both socially and professionally, have made a huge impact in my life and most will stay with me as I continue to live it, even well after my college years. I get opportunities afforded to me here that I would not receive anywhere else, and I am thankful to have been able to experience those.