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Name:
Shawn Hurst
Residence:
Indianapolis, Indiana
Graduation Year:
1994
Major:
Marketing
Minor:
Psychology
Why did you choose SJC?
My family and I were impressed by the College's Core Program and the flexibility it offered. Not only would I begin my major right away, but I would study a variety of subjects other than my major and minor. I liked that I would have the opportunity to know my professors and, in turn, they would have the chance to get to know me as a person. Also, I was interested in playing soccer on the college level, and SJC offered me an athletic scholarship to do so.
As a student, what were you involved in?
I was a four-year letterman for the men's soccer team, President of Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), and Vice President for the senior class. As a member of SIFE, I was involved in a variety of showcases and competitions in larger cities like Chicago and assisted with the planning of several events, including "Education Days" for high school students, where the club gave presentations focusing on a certain industry, and participants would create companies related to that industry. I also participated in intramural baseball, basketball, and hockey, and completed an internship the summer after my junior year. During that summer, I interned for Magnachem, a chemical company located in South Bend, Indiana, and my duties included traveling with sales representatives to see how they interacted with customers and meeting with the company's President and asking him questions about his job. I also assisted with the creation of several marketing pieces as well as a customer service survey, which resulted in the implementation of a number of changes in customer service operations. I learned a lot about the company and the overall world of marketing. It was a great opportunity for me.
What are you doing now?
I am the President and owner of Northstar Promotions, Inc., a marketing company based in Brownsburg, Indiana. We work with a variety of companies across the country to create literature, products, and other marketing-oriented materials for a variety of target audiences. We've been employed in every one of the 50 states and six different countries, with clients such as Saint Joseph's College, Dow Chemical Company, Wonder Bread, and Dannon Yogurt. I started Northstar when I was 24 years old, and almost seven years later, I can say that I still love my job. My job varies from day to day, which I like, and I enjoy working hard to serve others. That's what being in business is all about.
How did SJC prepare you for the "real world"?
The college experience I received at SJC prepared me not only to think critically, but educate myself on an issue before making a decision or forming an opinion about it. I learned how to dream big, remain focused in stressful times, set goals for the future, and work to obtain those goals in an ethical manner. Having this kind of a background gave me the confidence to start my own business at such a young age, and it really paid off. Though I was always a very goal-oriented person, it was attending Saint Joseph's College that gave me the tools to follow them through.
