#WhyGustavus Series: The Gustavus Handshake

You are coming to college to help receive an education that will help you succeed in your career path. Deciding what you want to do with the rest of your life is scary. The future can be intimidating. But, our Career Development Office, here at Gustavus has created the Handshake platform in order to help provide a support system for our students.

We are here for you! We want you to succeed! Which is why the new "Cluster" Model allows students, both who know what career they want to go into and those who are undecided, ask questions, build resumes, network, prepare for interviews, create a personal brand, etc.

Bottom line: Through the handshake platform, students can now receive tailored career guidance by choosing one or more of seven career interest clusters.  It's pretty awesome and it's super helpful.  Read more about it below.

Career Development Office Launches New “Cluster” Model

Cynthia Favre explains Handshake to 

senior management major Connor Perry.

The Gustavus Adolphus College Office of Career Development is implementing a new career interest cluster model this year that will allow students to receive resources and information tailored specifically to their prospective industries.
“How you look for a job in business is different than how you look for a job in healthcare,“ said Cynthia  Favre, Director of Career Development. “We now have people in our office who are focused on that and helping students to understand those differences.”

Through the Office of Career Development’s online platform (Handshake), students can self-identify in one or more of the seven career interest clusters, including a “still deciding” option. Then, instead of engaging with one career specialist for general questions, another specialist for internships, and yet another for job searching, students will meet with the specialist unique to their chosen cluster. Students will also receive specific messaging for each of the areas they’ve chosen, offering a more streamlined approach to career opportunities.

In addition to the new cluster model, Career Development has a number of other resources for students to take advantage of, both online and in the office. The career specialists deliver class presentations, are available for appointments, and host events. One new event this year is Real Life 101: Career, a weekly workshop that allows students to drop in to ask questions and learn about relevant topics, including first impressions and personal branding. The office also arranges for employers to visit campus throughout the academic year to give presentations,  interview students, and participate in job and internship fairs. For students that seek online resources, there is a digital career library, as well as modules on how to write resumes, networking, writing elevator speeches, and more.

Favre recommends that students schedule time to work on their career. She also says that while one of the hardest things for students to do is begin the process of planning for the future, the easiest way to get started is to join an online career interest cluster, or simply walk into the career development office.

“We have been doing a lot of work with our online platforms and the structure of our office, but it is exciting work. We are hoping that it will help students feel more connected and more engaged in career development,” said Favre.

To learn more about the Gustavus Office of Career Development, visit the departmental website.


Questions?  Contact our Director of Media Relations: JJ Akin, jakin@gustavus.edu, 507-933-7510

HOF Student Worker to Hockey World Champion

In three years, she wrote herself into the Women's Soccer Student Worker Hall of Fame. She stayed on top of her work, recorded our games, typed up recruiting notes, created DOC contact lists, and learned that the following is important when describing soccer players: can cover ground, wiley, cheeky, can play with back to goal, patient... She was also a student-athlete at Gustavus, playing a significant role on the very successful Women's Hockey Team. Post-Graduation she was invited to play on the South Korea Women's Hockey National Team. One thing turned into another and now she is a WORLD CHAMPION!

We are so proud of Muss! Congrats! Keep making us proud :)

Former Gustie Marissa Brandt Brings Home World Championship For South Korea

Marissa Brandt, a former Gustavus women’s hockey player from 2011-15, recently helped South Korea capture the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women’s World Championship – Division II Group A in Gangneug, South Korea.Brandt and the South Korean team defeated the Netherlands 2-0 to claim the title on its home ice April 8. South Korea went 5-0 in the six-team tournament April 2-8, taking down Slovenia, Britain, Austrailia, and North Korea en route to the championship.

“My experience at the World Championships was unforgettable,” said Brandt. “This was my first official competition with the team so it was an amazing experience. Especially having it in Korea where all of our fans and parents could come out was special.”

A native of Vadnais Heights, Minn., Brandt played in 111 career games and compiled 34 points off 13 goals and 21 assists as a blueliner for the Gusties. In her time, she helped guide Gustavus to three Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships, two MIAC Playoff Championships, two NCAA fourth place finishes while garnering two MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention awards.

Playing a role as one of the few players on the team coming from overseas, Brandt was invited as she was originally born in South Korea and was adopted by an American family. She finished the tournament tied for third on the team with three assists and posted a (+2) plus/minus rating.

Brandt was adopted at four months old and had not returned to Korea since. She was first contacted a few years back by the South Korea goalie coach, Rebecca Baker, a former Bethel University women’s hockey assistant. Baker’s husband, Mitch, previously did some coaching at the University of Minnesota, where Marissa’s sister, Hannah played from 2012-16. The connection then led to a tryout for Brandt.

“I did a tryout and was fortunate enough to make the team. I have been back here and there ever since to train with the team but also to do passport stuff to get my citizenship. It was a little terrifying to go because I knew no one there, did not speak the language and did not know what I was getting myself into. But now looking back, I am so happy I took that leap of faith,” Brandt said.

“Going back for my first time was very special to me. It was a chance for me to learn about my culture and explore all of what Korea has to offer. When I first got there, there was definitely a language barrier. I do not speak or understand any Korean so even talking to my teammates was difficult. Some can speak English, some can speak very broken English, and some have no idea what I am saying. So after going to Korea so many times now, it is easier for me to understand the girls and they teach me Korean words and phrases which helps. When I first put on the Korean jersey it was so special. It is such an honor to represent my country,” said Brandt.

While Brandt was helping guide her team to a gold medal in Korea, sister Hannah was also doing the same as a member of the United States team. Hannah Brandt finished off her decorated career at the University of Minnesota as an All-American and a three-time national champion. Team USA won the top division IIHF Women’s World Championship in Plymouth, Michigan, defeating Canada 3-2 in overtime just hours before South Korea was crowned a champion as well.

“We both went home with gold medals which was the cherry on top of everything,” Brand commented.

Brandt and the South Korean team will hope to continue its success in its Olympic debut next year at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games.

“It was a test event for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics so the venue we played at was the women’s ice hockey olympic venue which was pretty cool. We won gold which was a great way to go out and good momentum for us heading into the Olympics in 10 months,” Brandt concluded.

Article Courtesy of gustavus.edu/athletics. 

CHAMPIONS!!!!

Second Annual MIAC Special Olympics Unified Basketball Tournament - One for the Books

The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) partnered with Special Olympics Minnesota to put on the 2017 MIAC Special Olympics Unified Basketball Tournament to end NCAA Division III week on a high note. This was the second-annual Unified Basketball Tournament at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.

Bottom Row L-R: Ashley Becker, Katie Johnson,
Maggie Leininger, Lucy Thompson

The 2017 MIAC Special Olympics D-III Week Unified Basketball Tournament featured eight teams and numerous volunteers represented by 10 MIAC schools, with more than 100 combined MIAC student-athletes and Special Olympics athletes that were paired together to build friendships and compete on the court. The Gustavus Gusties along with their Special Olympics teammates won all three of its games, including a 64-49 win over Augsburg in the championship game.

The Gusties defeated the St. Olaf Oles team in the semifinals 53-41, and came out with a bang in the opening-round, to get a 64-42 win over St. Thomas. Due to their hard work and team effort, Gustavus became the winner of the MIAC Special Olympics Unified Championship Trophy, which will be presented to the champion at all MIAC Unified events.

After falling in last year's tournament, the St. Thomas Tommie's came back for vengeance. In the first round, after losing to the Gusties, St. Thomas rallied to win its next two games and claim the consolation title, including a 48-42 consolation semifinal win over Carleton and a 54-45 victory over Hamline in the consolation championship.

While the action on the court was certainly entertaining, the mission of the tournament was about much more than the scoreboard and it was accomplished in a big way. The MIAC blazed the trail for conference-wide Unified Basketball Tournaments in 2017, with the first known event of its kind in Division III and beyond. According to research, it's also just the second conference-wide Unified tournament of any kind, alongside the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference's Unified Bowling Tournament. 

Macalester's Leonard Center Fieldhouse was a perfect setting for the tournament, with a festive atmosphere and supportive fans in attendance. In addition to more than 50 MIAC student-athletes that played in the tournament, there were also more than 15 student-athletes who volunteered their time to set up, clean up, officiate or work the scorer's table.

Sunday marked the final day of NCAA Division III Week around the nation. The MIAC's Unified Tournament definitely served as a fitting conclusion to the week-long celebration, while simultaneously continuing an outstanding MIAC tradition.

The MIAC sincerely thanks all of its outstanding student-athletes who played in the tournament, worked as a volunteer, or attended as a spectator. The conference also thanks Special Olympics Minnesota and its athletes, staff and spectators along with Macalester College and the Scots' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for opening its doors to host for the second time and all of their effort required to host the event.






Article Courtesy of - http://miacathletics.com/general/2016-17/releases/041017_-_SOMN_MIAC_Unif._Bball

Sophie Leininger Does it Again!

How does one tell a story? How does one attract, then engage, then challenge a reader? What brought you to this blog and what keeps you reading?

Those are all questions junior Sophie Leininger is answering while she learns the craft of prose while serving as a student writer for the Gustavus Office of Marketing and Communications since September.  Sophie works closely with Director of of Media Relations and Internal Communication JJ Akin, conducting interviews with faculty and students on campus to document their stories, which are then published on the Gustavus website.

Over the January term, Sophie had the opportunity to interview Gustavus graduate and Senior Content Manager for the Minnesota Vikings Mike Wobschall at Winter Park, the team’s training facility. Sophie was able to tour the indoor field, team room, press room and outdoor facilities after talking extensively with Wosbchall in the team cafeteria.

"It was very cool to be able to sit down and talk with Mike as a Gustie Graduate and someone with such an important role for the Vikings,” she said when we asked her to reflect on the experience. “We tried our best to portray his story well in the feature. I learned a lot from JJ and improved my writing through the whole process."

Sophie returned to Gustavus chock full of information, but she still had the difficult task of organizing those quotes and anecdotes into a full-fledged story. She went through a three-draft process, working closely with JJ, before her piece was ready for publication.

"It's always rewarding to work with talented students and see them grow," Akin said.  "Sophie's at a point where we're challenging her to develop, frame, and craft her own pieces from start to finish, and I'm proud of her process and dedication on this story."

Not many students are capable of the work that Sophie does. We are so proud of her we wanted to brag about her latest feature and share with you this fantastic piece!

Minnesota Vikings Media Whiz "Wobby" Reflects on Gustavus Experience

Mike "Wobby" Wobschall '06. (Photo by John Noltner.)

At U.S. Bank Stadium on a Sunday morning in autumn, there are three hours until kick-off and less time than that before Gustavus Adolphus College alumnus Mike Wobschall ‘06 needs to be in the radio booth overseeing the football field below. As fans fill in and the excitement grows, he joins Minnesota Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen on the sidelines and the two move in front of the camera to film the weekly pregame show, Vikings Gameday Live.

Wobschall records one more live radio spot before he settles into the role where it all began, next to the broadcasters and the sports statisticians. The former student employee in the Gustavus Department of Sports Information is now the Senior Content Manager for the Vikings Entertainment Network, where Minnesota football fans and followers know him as “Wobby,” their one-stop connection to all things Vikings.

Behind the scenes, Wobschall helps manage several of the organization’s digital content

Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, Paul Allen,
and Mike Wobschall on the sideline.
(Photo courtesy of the Vikings Entertainment Network.)

platforms, including the website and both radio and television programming, while also acting as an intermediary between these departments. But to Wobschall, a loyal fan who used to cheer from his hometown of Waseca, Minn., the most important part of his job is interacting with the fans and allowing them to see their favorite team in a different light.

Wobschall answers every fan email and responds to select questions through weekly articles and video series known as the “Monday Morning Mailbag” and “Pick 6 Mailbag.” While posting updates on social media and articles on the website, he also provides team reports and player analyses on his podcasts. He is a regular contributor on KFAN Radio with Allen, who is both a colleague and close friend.

“During the season, the team’s performance on Sunday determines how my job will go for the week. My competitive side thrives on riding the highs and lows that come with being part of a team,” said Wobschall, who finished his 12th season with the Minnesota Vikings this fall. “I didn’t realize it when I didn’t try out for the Gustavus baseball team, but I wasn’t leaving sports. I was just joining a new side and it was the best decision I could have made.”

For Wobschall, finding his home as an integral part of the Vikings media team was the final step after a successful and busy four years at Gustavus.

During his time on the Hill, the communication studies major and political science minor gained an appreciation for working towards a larger goal.“I loved high school and was not looking too far ahead to college and to be honest, I did not know the benefits of a liberal arts college when I was deciding. That quickly changed,” said Wobschall. “I ended up thriving at Gustavus because my horizons were broadened and I was pushed out of my comfort zone.”

“I certainly wrote a lot of papers,” Wobschall laughed. “But I also learned one of the most important skills of my career in my communication classes. We practiced discussion and debate where the ability to construct and defend an argument is crucial. When we go live on the radio, I have one chance to articulate and I want to get it right.”

Outside of the classroom, Wobschall found an influential mentor in Tim Kennedy ‘82, the College’s former sports information director and current vice president for marketing and communication. Kennedy organized the sports information office with the purpose of producing professional work while also putting his student assistants in direct hands-on roles. Wobschall fit right into the team, excelling in the press box and quickly learning the ropes of sports statistics and reporting.

“Mike has an exceptional combination of work ethic, intellect, and creativity. He was a  

Paul Allen and Mike Wobschall record
a pregame video segment.
(Photo courtesy of the Vikings Entertainment Network.)

magician as a statistician and writer and even though he was a loyal Gustie fan, he always maintained professional and ethical work in the press box,” said Kennedy. “By the time he was a senior, he was mentoring and training younger students into the sports information roles. When he graduated, he had the experience and pure talent to be a director.”

Wobschall’s hard work did not go unnoticed. During his sophomore year, he was offered an internship with the Minnesota State High School League, where he kept statistics for state championship games. Within the next year, Kennedy recognized that Wobschall could perform at the highest level and made a phone call to Tom West, the Minnesota Vikings’ assistant director of public relations.

During his senior year and the 2005 Vikings season, Wobschall joined a media relations team of three personnel and wrote articles for the official Minnesota Vikings website. After graduation, the Vikings offered him another internship, which turned into a full-time job in 2007. Since then, the Vikings Entertainment Network has grown with the rise of technology, adding nearly 20 more employees and a presence across all media outlets.

“He took a passion for sports and turned it into a career by taking advantage of every opportunity he could,” Kennedy said. “Even with all the growth he has had with the Vikings and the development of their media network, this is just the beginning for him. By the time he is done, he will be recognized as one of the finest in professional sports media.”

“Looking back, I owe a lot to Gustavus. I learned accountability, responsibility, and humility

Mike ’06 and Ali (Chorley) ’08 Wobschall.
(Photo courtesy of the Vikings Entertainment Network.)

in a high-pressure yet supportive environment and found my next home with a new team,” recalled Wobschall. “And of all the contacts and friends I made, the most important person I met in the world of Gustie sports was my future wife.”

Looking ahead, Wobschall is excited for the future. When the team and network transitions to the new facility in Eagan in the upcoming months, he hopes they can continue to push the bar in their industry and unveil new content on more mediums.

In the meantime, he is content splitting his time at the current Vikings office at Winter Park with his home in Loretto, Minn., where he and his wife Ali (Chorley ‘08) are raising three young children.

The kids are frequent visitors to the Vikings training camp and office parties — and their dad is showing them how to wear Gustie black and gold and Vikings purple all at the same time.



Article courtesy of: gustavus.edu. Head over for more great articles, see how many you can find written by Sophie!