Hometown: Wantage, NJ
Major: International relations
Minor: Italian
Year Of Graduation: 2016
Her Campus: What have you been involved with on campus?
Chad Phalon: I’m the President of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), I am also a member of the men’s swim team, which I had the pleasure of captaining.
HC: Now I know you’ve been really involved in setting up the Special Olympics this year. What would you say was the biggest challenge that you had to face?
CP: Honestly, a lot of the challenges that I thought I was going to have to face, I didn’t end up having to face. Saint Mikes is really helpful and really willing to do whatever needed to be done in order to make the event successful. We’re actually a Special Olympics college, which I believe became official either last year or the year before that.
HC: So, what exactly does that entail?
CP: Well as a Special Olympics school, we basically just have to set up clinics to host the games. Which was a great thing to supervise and help plan this year.
HC: So, how has Special Olympics influenced you?
CP: I got involved with Special Olympics my junior year of high school, when I was 17 and from then on it’s really changed the course of my life. I really want to get involved with social justice and public health and hopefully get involved in a field where I can make a change for children with disabilities.
HC: Wow that’s really awesome, good for you. What was it like this year to take on a leadership role as a captain on the swim team?
CP: Being a captain was really great. It was a learning experience with many ups and downs, much like any experience you’re going to have in life. But I was really happy that I was in a position to make changes and enhance a program, but also watch people that I care about work hard and be rewarded for that hard work.
HC: As you’re nearing the end of your time here what is your favorite college memory?
CP: Honestly, the best memories here are the ones that happened unexpectedly. Like ordering wings on a Tuesday or like this one time we walked up to north campus and drove to Denny’s at like 2 in the morning. Or events that Saint Mike’s has like Derby day and P day.
HC: What are your plans for after college?
CP: So far I’m going to be a swim coach in New Jersey for children ages 2-18 years old. And after that I’m looking for jobs with either make a wish or Special Olympics, stuff like that.
HC: Finally, with graduation approaching, what is one thing that you would like to tell underclassmen?
CP: Get involved. I wasn’t originally involved, I was volunteered for a lot of the things I do now, but I am so lucky that I have gotten to do so many things. I really thing the best thing you can do is try everything once and see what things you like best.