Kyle Walters — A Man of Iowa

Most college students usually find that one thing that they know is their niche, whether it’s their job, volunteering, or an internship. Kyle Dale-Walters can say that he has found many niches in his college career.
Walters, a fifth year senior from Rockwell City, IA, is not only the executive director of the largest student run organization at the University of Iowa, Dance Marathon. He also works part time as a nursing assistant in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and is a full time student. Balancing all these various responsibilities never seems to be an issue for Walters.
“Literally ten minutes means so much more to me than it did a year ago,” said Walters. “When you care about something you do and you love what you do, it doesn’t matter how busy you are.”
This weekend will mark the 17^th annual Dance Marathon event, which is a student run organization that raises money for patients with cancer. Even though having the highest position offered through the program, Dance Marathon came as a short whim to him and became someplace of belonging.
 “I was kind of in the masses of Iowa my freshmen year I was looking for a place to belong and fit in,” said Walters. “I walked into the first event and it was amazing to walk into this room and see all the people standing for a cause and seeing all the families there.”
As an executive director, Walter’s duties include managing the 200 person leadership staff and organizing meetings every week. Also, he helps by guiding the leadership groups by trying to meet the final goal of getting more dancers and donations for the big event.
“Dance Marathon is a full time job, but it’s not just me there is a ton of people putting in work as well,” said Walters. “I was a little intimated to apply for this position to see all the requirements it does have with it, but it’s been such a successful year all ready.”
Not only is Walters a part of Dance Marathon, but his resume includes being a part of the security team for Herky the Hawk, being an orientation leader, and having a past job as a tour guide for the University.
For a man who has been involved with so much of the Iowa culture, coming to University of Iowa almost didn’t happen.
“I actually had my application to go to Northern Iowa all filled out but last minute my uncle, who is a football coach from around this area, said I needed to come to Iowa and to see what it all has to offer,” said Walters. “I went to the football game, I met Herky, then I got a campus tour to meet some of the professors and I just saw how amazing the Iowa campus and culture was.”
“I instantly applied and I got in.”
Walters, a French and Psychology major, will be graduating in May and starting a job in the Twin Cities area as a physics teacher for the organization Teaching for America. He then will head back to school and get his masters in education.
“I really love working with youth regardless of their family incomes,” said Walters. “ I am just trying to make a difference and it will be a challenge, but an experience I definitely will remember.”
Sitting in the Iowa Memorial Union Main Ballroom, where all eyes will be on him and his leadership team to see if they can raise more money than the previous year, Walters seems calm.
“To be apart of something to help and see it grow over the years, it has been so amazing,” said Walters. “It’s hard to believe that a whole year of work is about accumulate in just a couple of days.”  
With not only Dance Marathon coming to an end, but graduation lingering, Walter’s will defiantly remember his experience at Iowa.
“The biggest thing I will miss about Iowa is when I started out here I was lucky if I saw one to two people I knew walking to class, now I can’t make it without running into ten people that I know either through class, Dance Marathon, or some organization.”
“It’s sad to think about leaving college, but I’ll definitely bring the culture of the University with me where ever I go.”