Honors Day
Student Perspective

Andy Tompsett '07
May 4, 2007

Good afternoon. President Anderson, thank you for that thoughtful introduction. I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to scholarship donors, their families, scholarship recipients, members of the Board of Regents, faculty, staff, and friends of the College. I would also like to welcome and thank Dave Hauck and his wife, Mary, for being here today. Haucker, as a coach, mentor, and friend, your leadership, dedication, and guidance have served as a source of inspiration for me and hundreds of Oles. St. Olaf College would not be the same without you and for that we are indebted, thank you. For those of you returning to Manitou Heights today, welcome!

The first time I had the privilege to visit St. Olaf College was on a hot summer day, six years ago, during the summer before my junior year of high school. My family was driving through southern Minnesota on our way home from a club swim meet at the University of Minnesota when my mom decided we needed to make an impromptu pit stop in Northfield to visit, and I quote, "the college she had read so many good things about in the church bulletin." My mom had never read about the other college in town, so we saw no need to devote any time to visiting the east side of Northfield.

We committed a significant portion of our visit to roaming independently around campus—exploring the library, peering into summer classes, talking with professors and students, walking through the Natural Lands, and enjoying a hearty meal in the Caf. Everything my family and I saw at St. Olaf was bigger, better, and more beautiful than we expected. We saw students researching extracellular proteins in the Science Center, faculty leading nationally recognized conferences in these ballrooms, students training for national competitions in the Tostrud Center, and faculty and students engaging in thoughtful conversation in the Cage.

I could not believe St. Olaf had passed under the radar for so much of my college search. After my short afternoon visit to St. Olaf and a brief conversation with an admissions counselor, I was ready to skip the application process and make my deposit as the first paying member of the Class of 2007. Unfortunately, my admissions counselor would not accept my check. Instead she sent my family and me on our way home to wait—wait until the day I could call myself an Ole.

Later that evening, after an agonizing ride through Wisconsin filled with questions and inquiry about St. Olaf, my family and I returned home. When I began to share the experience of my visit with good friends and extended family I was met with mixed responses. They were all excited and supportive; however, for the most part, having never heard of St. Olaf, their responses were comical. The most common was, "Excuse me…St. What? Or Saint Olaugh?" Or my swim coach’s response, “Oh, I know, that’s the school Rose from the Golden Girls attended.” Or my English teacher's reaction, "Oh yeah, that's the school Jay Gatsby attended." Or my friends' response and my favorite, "Is that a community college?" I also shared my decision with a few people who knew of St. Olaf and its programs well, including my pastor who knew of St. Olaf's dedication to the Gospel and my chemistry teacher who knew of St. Olaf's excellent science programs and commitment to success. It took awhile for me to share the experience of my short campus visit—to describe the beauty of the campus, the dedication of the faculty, the success of the athletic programs, and the enthusiasm of the students—to everyone I encountered. However, by the end of the summer and after a good month of explaining my college decision, I had justified my decision to all my friends and family and, most importantly, truly convinced myself that St. Olaf was the place for me.

Arriving on campus on the first day of my first-year, nervous, yet excited for Week One, my belief that St. Olaf was the perfect institution for me was solidified. Well, at least the fact that St. Olaf was "literally" a perfect match for me. My first-year roommate and I could not have had more similar characteristics. We shared the same initials, AST; were competitive swimmers, biology and environmental studies majors, avid outdoorsmen, and international travelers. We spent our first-year exploring everything St. Olaf had to offer. We both pursued degrees in biology, but chose different pathways. We both studied abroad, but landed on different ends of the world. We went our separate ways, choosing to become involved in different organizations on- and off-campus.

Beginning my first-year, I followed the example of generations of Oles who came before me and dedicated a portion of my time to volunteering, to involvement in the community, and to serving others. During my four years on the Hill, I have been involved with various organizations, including the Student Alumni Association, an organization designed to connect current students to alumni; Spread the Hope, a support group for families and individuals affected by cancer at the Ronald McDonald House in the Twin Cities; and the Student Athletic Advisory Board, an organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of sportsmanship, community involvement, and camaraderie among athletic teams. I have also volunteered at St. John's Lutheran Church in town as a first grade Sunday school teacher and youth group student coordinator; taught swim lessons to young children; served as a Resident Assistant; assisted a professor as a teaching assistant; helped clean-up and rebuild New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; been a member of the men's swim team; participated in a study abroad program to India; and led the Class of 2007's fundraising campaign for the College.

Now, I did not just ramble off a list of accomplishments to sound like the most conceited Honor's Day luncheon speaker ever, rather to prove a point. In fact, my list of commitments and accomplishments is minimal compared to my classmates. Oles' commitments run deep—from Northfield to Minneapolis and beyond, to Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. St. Olaf College prides itself as an institution that "provides an education committed to the liberal arts, rooted in the Christian Gospel, incorporating a global perspective"—and it does just that. Everything is possible at St. Olaf.

As a student, I see the mission of this College carried out everyday—students engage in inquisitive discussions with professors and friends; enhance their faith through various means on campus; and explore the world and its cultures through discussion, lectures and travel. The College's faculty supports the academic programs, international studies programs, faith based organizations, and volunteer organizations that "encourage students to be seekers of truth, leading lives of unselfish service to others; and challenges them to be responsible and knowledgeable citizens of the world." The incorporation of a global perspective into every academic discipline challenges students to engage in international exploration, research, and study. Aside from deciding to attend St. Olaf, the greatest decision I have made in life was to leave the Hill for a semester.

During fall semester of my junior year, I traveled to India on a study-service program called Biology in South India to conduct two independent biology research projects and teach English to Indian students with polio. My research brought a glimmer of hope and future to two organizations in India. My first project involved the feasibility of tropical forest beekeeping and its future as an economic subsidy for local farmers. Next, at a government wildlife sanctuary, I researched the effects of death by road kill on local wildlife populations and proposed projects to reduce road kill in high frequency areas. While this trip certainly enhanced my understanding of biology and scientific research, the most beneficial experience was an increased understanding and appreciation of a foreign culture.

It is difficult to explain why I came to love India, given the obvious inequalities that plague the nation; however, I came to love the people for their hospitality, the country and its sites for their unseen beauty, the culture for its depth and richness, and the religions for their peace and tranquility. My trip to India opened my eyes to the world and they will never again be shut. I can no longer read the newspaper without feeling remorse for the warring nations of Africa, the impoverished citizens of Southeast Asia, and the inequalities of Latin America. My experiences two years ago helped changed my long term goals and mold my aspirations. As President Anderson mentioned, in September, I will begin 27 months of service in the Peace Corps teaching secondary science in a non-French speaking African country. While serving in the Peace Corps has always been a long-term goal for me, the opportunities and experiences afforded to me as a St. Olaf student helped solidify my decision. After my term of service, I hope to return to the United States to pursue graduate degrees in public health and international development.

In the midst of it all and I mean it all—classes, internships, volunteering, interviews, traveling, athletic events, sleeping, and studying—students often forget that St. Olaf College would not be the same without the continued financial support of alumni and friends of the College. People like you make the dream of attending St. Olaf a reality for so many students every year. Thank you! Thank you for everything you do for the College. In addition to providing endowed scholarships, your gifts to the College support instruction, financial aid, student life, and international travel—the aspects of St. Olaf that make this institution unique. As co-chair of the Class of 2007 Senior Giving Campaign, it is my job to convey this message to graduating seniors. It is not difficult to promote the idea of philanthropy to 664 graduating seniors—they have spent the past four years of their life giving back to the St. Olaf, Northfield, and the surrounding communities. Currently, 75% of the class has pledged their financial support to the College within a year of graduation. Seniors appreciate the value of their education and the experiences they gained at St. Olaf, and just like you, they want to help provide a similar experience for future generations of St. Olaf students.

As I recently shared with you, six years ago, when I first told my friends and family I was attending St. Olaf College, few of them had any knowledge of the College. However, today when I return home, their perception and knowledge of St. Olaf is different. I am constantly proud to explain that St. Olaf College is a predominantly residential institution in historic downtown Northfield, Minnesota committed to the liberals arts, affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and dedicated to promoting a global perspective. With approximately three weeks until graduation, I realize St. Olaf is a launching pad for success. The institution and its academic and non-academic departments have provided me with the opportunity to succeed—not only during the past four years but also throughout life. What started six years ago as an impromptu pit stop with my family, has turned into a life changing experience. As you and I know, St. Olaf College encourages its students to lead lives of service to others, seek the truth, and become responsible and knowledgeable citizens of the world—and it does just that.