Throughout the spring semester we are celebrating our senior student-athletes with a Senior Salute series. Today's featured senior is track and field's Henry Schneiderman. Schneiderman is a communication studies major.
 
Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I chose to attend Wooster as I believed it to have everything I wanted from a higher education institution. I was drawn in by the small classes and tight-knit community that promised and delivered a plethora of meaningful connections and resources. Wooster has an incredibly friendly community that I knew I wanted to be a part of when searching for colleges. Lastly, the opportunity to run track and field at the College solidified my choice to become a Fighting Scot.
 
Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: Being a student-athlete at Wooster means a lot to me. My time on the track and field team has been instrumental in shaping my college experience. It introduced me to some of my closest friends at Wooster today, allowed me the opportunity for competition at the collegiate level, and introduced me to a rich community from which I have made lifelong connections.
 
Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: My favorite memories as a student at Wooster boil down to the many experiences I have had with my friends, family, and the community at the College. Whether it be late-night study sessions with my buddies, meals at Lowry with my pals, or competition on the track with my teammates, my favorite memories from my time at Wooster have all come from the rich community it provides.
 
Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The best part about being a student-athlete at Wooster is the community. Friendships made on sports teams are sure to be a prominent aspect of any student-athlete's time at the College, both in competition and in the classroom. Bonds made in the athletics department are sure to enhance any student's experience at Wooster.
 
Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: Outside of track and field I am involved in a number of student activities, clubs, and jobs. I am the president of the College's Lambda Pi Eta chapter, which is the communications honor society. I am an active member of the Communication Club, the sports editor for the Wooster Voice, and have previously served as the group's business manager. I am a member of the cultural events committee and had a stint in an a capella group my sophomore year. Furthermore, I have worked as a sophomore research assistant in the past and now currently have three campus jobs. I served as an athletic communication game assistant and provided commentary for the streams of men's and women's soccer matches this year. I currently work as a game operations assistant and have worked as a box office assistant at the Ohio Light Opera throughout all four years of my time at Wooster.
 
Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Dr. Denise Bostdorff of the communication studies department has had the greatest impact on me at Wooster. As my Independent Study advisor, Dr. Bostdorff has continuously challenged and pushed me to improve my writing, research, and communication skills. She has provided me with much feedback and many comments throughout my Independent Study journey while always being in a positive mood and open to pleasant conversation. Despite the short time I have known her Dr. Bostdorff has had an immense impact on me while at Wooster.
 
Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people and resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: Coach Dennis Rice has undoubtedly had an incredibly positive impact on my time at Wooster. Coach Rice has provided instruction to improve across a variety of track and field events. He has always been understanding of academics taking priority at Wooster and is incredibly supportive of both his team's athletic and academic endeavors. He has cultivated an incredibly strong and tight-knit community within the program. I can confidently say his actions have continuously enhanced my experience at Wooster.
 
Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: I am analyzing a relatively unknown speech from John F. Kennedy prior to his presidency. I am examining how his rhetoric in that speech both foreshadowed the policies and politics of his later presidency and how it reflected the context of the era. My I.S. draws upon what I have learned both as a communication studies major and a political science minor to provide research and conclusions on a subject not often previously studied.
 
Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: I had the opportunity to work as a sophomore research assistant over the summer after my sophomore year. Working with Dr. Megan Wrobel and a group of other students from my U.S. film and politics class that previous semester, I researched congressional and governmental responses to natural disasters. This study specifically looked at hurricanes and how the response changed in frequency from before and after the outbreak of COVID. I also participated in weekly meetings to discuss and receive research instruction. Results were compiled into various spreadsheets and sent to Dr. Wrobel for use in her ongoing research publication on the subject.
 
Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self?
A: If I were to give advice to my first-year self, I would explore the vast resources offered at APEX. As a senior, I have been thinking about and planning my future after graduation and have frequently ventured into APEX to do so. I have been engaging in weekly career planning meetings and other events. As a result of my time using these resources, I feel much more confident about what I wish to do in the future. If I were to give advice to my first-year self, I would emphasize the vast benefits and opportunities of APEX and encourage exploring the facility much earlier on.
 
Interested in becoming a Fighting Scot?    
High school prospective student-athletes can click here to learn about our recruiting process, click here to view the virtual campus tour, and click here to learn more about admissions events, tours, and visit programs.  
  
Transfer prospective student-athletes can click here to learn about our transfer recruiting process and use the links above for the virtual tour and admissions visit programs.