This week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ward Udinski and Ethan Wilt, who are friends, teammates on the football team, and seniors at Juniata. Both Ward and Ethan were recently honored with awards lauding their athletic, academic, and community service accomplishments. Let’s get to know this week’s Campus Celebrities!
Q: Where are you from, what do you do at Juniata, and what are your plans for the future?
WU: I’m from Doylestown, PA, and I study Business Management and Math. On campus, I’m on the football team, I’m an editor of the Juniatian, I tutor students in business and math, I’m involved in a bible study, I’m a member of Pi Mu Epsilon (Mathematics Honor Society), and I’m a student rep on the Juniata College Board of Trustees. After Juniata I plan to enter the workforce.
EW: I’m from Altoona, PA, and I study Politics. I’m also on the football team, I’m an officer in the Pre-Law club, I’m involved in a bible study, and I taught Boy Scouts. After graduation, I will be attending law school.
Q: Tell me about the awards you recently won!
WU: I was named to the 2014 AFCA All State Good Words Team. Twenty-two football players were named (across D1, D2, and D3). The award was given based on community service and athletic achievement.
EW: I have been named as a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is presented by Fidelity Investments. One hundred-sixty-seven football players received this honor. Out of this group, sixteen scholar-athletes will receive an $18,000 scholarship to be used toward their postgraduate education. The recipients of this award were chosen for their academic achievements and athletic performance.
Q: It would be easy to skate by and do the bare minimum, but you both contribute so much more to Juniata. What motivates you to be so involved here?
WU: I enjoy being involved, staying busy, and helping others. I’m also a competitive guy!
EW: I agree with Ward’s answer. I also aim to leave things, like the overall football team G.P.A., better than I’ve found them.
Q: What’s your favorite memory from Juniata?
WU: My favorite football memory is definitely beating Susquehanna freshman year. Generally, I really like the feeling of returning to campus every semester, it begins to feel like “home” after a while and it’s great to reunite with everyone.
EW: Beating Susquehanna last year was my favorite football memory. I can’t narrow down a single event as my favorite general memory at Juniata- these past four years have been great.
Q: What is the most important thing you’ve learned from Juniata?
WU: Stay true to yourself- do what makes you happy and don’t concern yourself with what others think.
EW: This quote, from The Alchemist sums up what I’ve learned at Juniata, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”