Throughout the spring semester, we are honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Cole Hissong, an education and history major from Shreve, Ohio. Hissong is a member of the football team.
Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I chose to attend Wooster for a chance to play as a first-year (freshman), as well as the extensive alumni network which I knew would help me in my job search.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a Fighting Scot student-athlete?
A: I am extremely proud to be a student-athlete at The College of Wooster and to represent a college with such a successful athletics program. I believe myself and the other athletes reflect the character and work ethic that has helped set such a high standard.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Some of my favorite memories include beating Wabash in consecutive football seasons, joining my fraternity (Phi Sigma Alpha), and celebrating I.S. Monday with all of the seniors.
Q: What's 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 experiencing the immense support from the surrounding community as well as the staff and faculty on campus. Gamedays are an incredible atmosphere thanks to all of the people who come out to support on Saturdays.
Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I am a member of Phi Sigma Alpha, Men Working For Change, a volunteer organization that advocates against domestic violence in the Wooster community, and Kappa Delta Pi (campus chapter of national education honor society).
Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Dr. Ryan Ozar has made the biggest impact on me because he always takes time out of his day to ask me how I am doing and how my personal life is going outside of school. He is great at developing personal relationships with his students and truly cares about setting us up for success in college and after.
Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people/resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: Coach Frank Colaprete has had a profound impact on my time at Wooster. He is a coach who cares about his athletes as men first and pushes us to be successful not only in football, but in academics and life. His determination and drive has reflected on me and has motivated me to push myself athletically and academically. I know I will carry these traits on with me after graduation.
Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: For my I.S., I am looking at Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt's presidencies regarding their Native American policies. I make the argument that their respective policies and actions towards Natives were a byproduct of their larger goals for the nation as a whole. Additionally, I explore the relationship between Native Americans and the federal government in the 21st century and look to make connections between that and the relations of the Grant and Roosevelt administration, exemplifying the continuity of the government's mishandling of Native American affairs through generations.
Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: I plan to intern as a strength and conditioning coach at Durniat Strength, a local gym, this summer. This will help me with my future plans of becoming a certified strength and conditioning specialist and learn more about strength programming and athlete nutrition.
Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what is one piece of advice you would give your first-year (freshman) self?
A: Make the most of your time in college and don't take any moment for granted.
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