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Name:
Kenny Shumard
Residence:
Indianapolis, Indiana
Graduation Year:
2004
Majors:
Computer Science and Mathematics
Why did you choose SJC?
I originally began college at an in-state university
with over fifteen thousand students, and by the end of my sophomore year,
I had "fallen through the cracks." By the end of my freshman year, I still
had no academic advisor, so I had to register for classes without any assistance.
I never declared a major because nobody asked me to. To say the least, I
wasn't receiving any personal attention. SJC was recommended to me by a
family friend who had graduated from here, Tom Kuhar '88.
Tom had studied computer science in college, and he talked a lot about the
faculty members he knew while he was here. I was interested in computers,
too, so I looked into SJC, and found it was a place where I could receive
the attention I wanted from my professors and be involved with campus life.
As a student, what were you involved in?
During my time at SJC, I was President of the
Computer Club, Treasurer for the SJC chapter of Habitat For Humanity, a
retreatant and leader for the Kairos retreat, a tutor for the Computer Science,
Mathematics, and Natural Science Departments and Core Program, member of
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), involved with the Columbian Players
(theatre organization) appeared in three of their productions, and played
intramural sports. I was also published in Measure (SJC's student-produced
literary magazine), a D.J. for the campus's radio station, WPUM, and Resident
Assistant. I was President of the Student Association and am the founder
of a new group on campus called "Techies." The group aimed
to provide computer support for SJC students, free of charge.
Also, I interned with NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, where I rewrote operating code for an in-house sensor network center, looked at existing code and translated it into different programming languages, and was challenged to increase the overall efficiency of the sensor network system. I learned a lot about working in a governmental setting, picked up two new programming languages, and gained experience working on a software project that wasn't in existence simply for me to earn a good grade in class - it actually had to accomplish something once I had completed it.
What are you doing now?
I am currently serving with the AmeriCorps'
National Civilian Community Corps.
How did SJC prepare you for the "real world"?
SJC provided me with an environment where I could
explore boundaries and try new things without the fear of failure. I
became close to many students, and the support structure is such that I
felt ready to do things I wouldn't have been able to do at a larger school.
Also, because of my involvement in so many activities, I have a better idea
of the different paths I can take in my life.
