Greenville College Annual Report 2000-2001

Campus Profiles

Greenville College Opportunities Build Leadership and Growth

Cory Gerdts would be the first to admit that he would “give it all up” just to own and manage a golf course. By “it,” he refers to a promising career in chemistry. That is, after all, his decided major at Greenville College.

But Gerdts, 21, a senior, recognizes that he could go either way – chemistry or golf – and still his GC education would emerge as another rock-solid slab of his life’s foundation.

“My education at Greenville College has been very valuable,” he said. “If nothing more it was worth the $70,000-plus that have come from me in one way or another so I could be here. I value the friendships I have made and the chance to see Christianity through many different lenses.”

Gerdts grew up in Lincoln, Ill., with his three brothers and one sister. His father is a preacher and adult minister, and his mother, a former preschool teacher, now works implementing new curricula in schools. Gerdts was raised in the Christian church denomination, and was very involved in church and school activities, including “everything from choir, band, scholastic bowl and plays, to soccer, football, and tennis,” he said.

He decided to attend GC for several reasons. For one, he received the prestigious Presidential Scholarship. He wanted to go where he could continue to play soccer. GC came highly recommended by a friend of his, Shelley Fitzsimmons ‘01.

In short, said Gerdts, “I wanted to go to a small Christian school.”

He said he isn’t exactly sure why he chose chemistry as a major.

“It has just always been interesting to me, especially organic chemistry,” he said. “The experience here has been pretty good overall. It is a typical small school in that the professors are willing to help whenever it is needed. This is what drew me to the small school in the first place.”

His experience in chemistry has been augmented by two summer research opportunities. In 2000, he went to Loyola University in Chicago and worked with Dr. Dan Graham. Last summer, he completed a short-term research project at the University of Iowa, under the tutelage of Dr. Sarah Larsen.

“This was an especially good experience because I really felt like it showed me what graduate school might be like,” said Gerdts. “I worked with Dr. Larsen and really made progress on the project that her and her lab was and is working on. I found out (for better or worse) what it was like to be a part of a lab community on an everyday basis.

“I would recommend these programs to anyone who is eligible.”

Gerdts had said he wanted to play soccer at GC. And play he did. Prior to the most recent season, his last, he was chosen as a team captain.

“Soccer at Greenville College has been so great,” he said. “There have been many quality individuals that have been a part of the program in my four year tenure. The quality of the soccer players through the years was capped off this year with the team we had. We really were the ultimate group of nice guys.

“If I was considered to be a leader by those guys I feel honored, but it was really a group that (for the most part) lead themselves, in their attitudes and desires, and came together as a true team.”

He said he himself has been led by his coaches’ examples of “intensity, desire, will, discipleship, love and character.”

During his four-year stint at GC, Gerdts said his strengths have been harnessed and tested. Those strengths include: “leadership, communication, hopefully humility, desire to do well whatever the situation, and maybe most important, an easy going attitude and keeping things in perspective.”

Overall, said Gerdts, his education at GC has proved most valuable.
“The Greenville College education gave me more than just an academic education, it offered overall growth as a person. It’s not that other schools couldn’t offer that, it’s just that Greenville has so many opportunities available for spiritual, emotional and academic growth readily available.

“If I had it to do over again, I think I’d find myself in the same place.”

Last updated: January 16, 2002