Meet Chris Wilkins and Dan Stam

Chris Wilkins graduated from the University of Montana with bachelor’s degrees in finance and marketing. Additionally, he minored in economics and earned an entrepreneurship certificate. He lists his current occupation as, “job hunter.”

Home: Billings, MT

Mortar Board chapter: Penetralia chapter

Favorite Mortar Board moment: Attending the 2010 Mortar Board National Conference

Major student activities: Student government; Finance Club; Marketing Club; Mortar Board; and Big Brothers/Big Sisters

Most recent achievement: Graduating from college with two degrees, a minor and a certificate

What you have done, would like to do, or already do that no one but you knows about: I am in the planning stages of a 2-3 month backpacking trip through Europe. While there, I plan on seeing Notre Dame play in Dublin and the Olympics in London.

Hobby: Business planning, networking and camping

Last book(s) read: Your Marketing Sucks by Mark Stevens

Most-used web site(s): Facebook.com and the University of Montana’s website

Five adjectives that describe you: Adventurous, courageous, hilarious, spontaneous and dedicated

How your college experience changed your life: It opened my eyes to lifetime of opportunities.

Your favorite organization: Mortar Board, because of the passionate and dedicated people you can surround yourself with.

Advice you would give to new chapter leaders: I have learned a lot about myself and what it takes to be a great leader. I would stress to incoming chapter leaders the importance of time management and communication. Time management is important because it’s essential to plan Mortar Board events with plenty of time to spare. Communication is the most important aspect I would pass to an incoming leader. I have learned the importance of networking with other Mortar Board members that I met last summer. My close network of friends have relied on each other for motivation and answering questions on how to help their chapters succeed.

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Dan Stam recently graduated from Northern Michigan University. He is currently studying for a doctor of physical therapy degree and is a medical first responder. He is proudly from Marquette County, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Mortar Board chapter: Telion chapter

Favorite Mortar Board moment: My favorite Mortar Board moment was receiving a very touching letter as a result of our chapter adopting a single mother and her two children over the Christmas holiday. For the first time, I realized that we can truly make a difference in other people’s lives, even if we never have the ability to meet them in person. My second favorite Mortar Board moment was a culmination of the entire initiation process—especially seeing the surprise on a new initiate’s face when tapped in front of his or her class, and having this opportunity to pass the torch to tomorrow’s leaders.

Major student activities: Mortar Board! I also had some very unique experiences as a student athletic trainer at the University of Notre Dame, at the United States Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Mich., and traveling and working within the National Football League as a summer intern.

Most recent achievement: Graduating summa cum laude from NMU this past May!

What you have done, would like to do, or already do that no one but you knows about: A little-known fact is that I was a biology major with a concentration in aquatic and wildlife biology, prior to switching to sports medicine. At one time I was raising two salt-water catfish-sharks in a large aquarium. These sharks would have reached over 1 foot in length each, and were quite unique specimens, equipped with long whiskers and even mildly poisonous spines! This secret project of mine quickly came to an end once I began traveling a bit more. One day when I have more resources and free time I would love to create and maintain another underwater habitat!

Hobby: Tennis

Last book(s) read: Rapidly Reversible Low Back Pain: An Evidence-Based Pathway to Widespread Recoveries and Savings by Ronald Donelson, M.D. (excellent book!). I have also been reading Brian Tracy’s Eat That Frog! and working on John Maxwell’s The 360 Degree Leader, a book on how to develop leadership from anywhere within an organization.

Most-used web site(s): My email, Google.com, YouTube.com, and research-related websites. Also, as a former chapter leader, I would highly recommend www.mortarboard.org!

Five adjectives that describe you: Ambitious, energetic, honest, detailed and compassionate

How your college experience changed your life: Can you believe that if one were to condense the entire world’s population into ten people, only one person would hold a college degree?  My undergraduate transition has been slightly bittersweet, yet, I am very proud of this accomplishment, and grateful for the people who have been in my life during this time. It truly has been a privilege. A privilege not to say, “I’ve done this,” but rather, I was given the opportunity to live, to learn and to serve for these past few years.

Fast forward to today, and my email inbox is filled with tempting potential opportunities to become involved as a new graduate student: to advocate on Capitol Hill, be a voice of change in legislative efforts or assist in disaster relief. Sometimes it (and college life) can be overwhelming, but these opportunities also say, “Here is the future.”

If there is one life-changing lesson I’ve learned while in college, it is that there is an entire world out there, far beyond our own homes and personal computers. There are daily battles fought with uncertainty, adversity, disease and debilitating injury, poverty, and homes and lives lost to natural disasters. Being one of the ten percent of people in this world to hold a college degree, how do we, of multiple disciplines and skills, make a difference? How do we become the change which we would ultimately like to see?

Your favorite organization: Mortar Board will always hold a special place. What Mortar Board gave me during college was a chance to get away. Rather than focusing completely on my career or the stressing aspects of everyday life, it allowed me to focus on the needs of my university and my community. Our chapter’s service events included reading books to children, raking leaves for an elderly couple and trick-or-treating for books to support a local library. And there is also the fact that Mortar Board is multidisciplinary and very diverse.

In just a few days, we will all have the opportunity to meet hundreds of new peers and potential mentors from across the United States. Graduate students, college seniors and college professors, all providing a wide spectrum of education and specialized training. For this weekend, these people will be brought together not to compete, but to cooperatively promote the pillars of scholarship, leadership and service.

Appreciating the value which each person and field of study brings while establishing lifelong friendships along the way—this commitment to its members is what truly sets Mortar Board apart.

Advice you would give to new chapter leaders: Take every opportunity, take pride in what you do, commit to serving a larger cause and give your members the very best experience possible. It’s what you put in that counts, and creating this experience is what you make it, regardless of the level of resources and prestige your university has available.