Hometown: Leesburg, Florida

Major: MBA (Human Resources Management)

Anticipated graduation date: Spring 2021

Why did you choose to attend GSW?
GSW provided me with an opportunity to further my studies in my career field while participating in collegiate athletics. I visited the campus in October of 2017 and loved the small-town environment and personal relationships between teachers. GSW also supports in-state tuition from neighboring states which made my decision that much easier.

University involvement, achievements, awards:

• Dean's list each semester
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Member
• Enactus
• Human Resource Scholar
• Outstanding Business Graduate of the Year
• Summa Cum Laude Graduate
• GSW Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
• GSW Male Performer of the Year
• GSW Male Athlete of the Year (2021)
• Preseason 2nd team All-American
• Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year 

If you had to choose a discipline to study other than your major, what would it be? Why?
I would have studied kinesiology if I did not do Human Resources. This topic interests me because it is the study of how the body moves. I would have utilized this to better understand motions in athletic activities, such as pitching, to potentially increase mechanical efficiency.

What are some of the challenges and/or perks of online learning?
Online learning makes it difficult to find those relationships some desire with teachers and other students. This makes diverse thought through discussion hard and group work. The benefits allow students to work at a pace they can handle. I enjoy these classes because I have a job and currently play baseball, so online studies allow me to layout my schedule in a way that suits my daily routines.

Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree or take online classes?
When I was young, I was always taught that athletics would not be in my life forever. One thing that can never be taken away is an education, which ultimately is why I decided to continue growing academically. The online classes allow me to continue my business lifestyle and handle classwork on my own time while maintaining all other obligations.

Who is your favorite professor or staff member and why?
I have created some lasting relationships with all teachers in the College of Business and Computing, but my top two favorites would have to be Dr. Wilson and Dr. Aller. Both individuals provided me with opportunities of growth and real-world examples of work in action beyond GSW. Each of these professors created an environment surrounding me with some of the best knowledge and experiences possible. Through them, I became a Human Resource major, was provided a scholarship, presented a project to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and job shadowed a Senior HR manager for Sam's Club on a private trip to their headquarters. These individuals have both set me up for success in my field of study and will continue to do the same with others.

What advice do you have for incoming students?
New students need to enjoy every second of college because it will fly by. Get involved, seek friendships that help you grow as an individual. Find ways to become more involved with clubs and athletics. Many people think college work will consume you, but with proper time management, there is so much time to enjoy yourself which is part of the experience. Do as much as you can here and create those memories that will last a lifetime. College is a place to take advantage of everything you have that is right in front of you before entering the real world.

What is your favorite vacation spot or a memorable trip you’ve taken?
Last summer, I went on a vacation to Myrtle Beach for 5 weeks staying in an Airbnb. This is my most memorable trip because it was the first time I had paid for something of such magnitude on my own. It was just me and my girlfriend and we each worked there while using it as a vacation. This trip was also memorable because it was right at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which made the stay much cheaper, although not much was open besides the beach.

Posted April 29, 2021