Following my passion because of Wartburg
NAME: Amy Freeseman Yeager
CLASS YEAR: 1998
MAJOR: Accounting and business administration
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: Chief financial officer, Children & Families of Iowa
WHY WARTBURG: I chose Wartburg because I planned to major in accounting and business, and Wartburg had a strong reputation for these majors. I was offered the opportunity to participate in a pilot program that enabled accounting students to complete 150 semester hours within four years. I also wanted to continue singing in college, as I was very involved with music in high school. Wartburg offered me the opportunity to sing in a college choir without being a music major.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOU COULD DO BEFORE COMING TO WARTBURG: I had never flown in an airplane before coming to Wartburg. I never imagined I would travel to Australia and Hawaii. I spent May Term of my senior year with the Castle Singers on tour in Australia, with a three-day stop in Hawaii at the end of the trip.
HOW DID YOUR WARTBURG EXPERIENCE PREPARE YOU FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE: After my junior year, I had an accounting internship with John Deere. Upon successful completion of the internship, I was offered a full-time position with John Deere before I started my senior year. The accounting and business faculty and staff supported and encouraged me throughout the entire internship experience.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WARTBURG TRADITION: Oktoberfest after the football game is the best Homecoming event and is my favorite tradition.
HOW DO YOU STAY CONNECTED TO THE COLLEGE: While employed by John Deere, I “paid it forward’ by supporting the accounting internship relationship between Wartburg and Deere. I supervised many Wartburg students as interns with John Deere. I stayed connected with the accounting professors and came back to accounting classes to share my professional experiences with Wartburg students.
My family attends Homecoming every year, which is such an opportunistic time to see changes on campus, meet new alumni, and reconnect with friends, faculty, and staff.
We love attending Christmas with Wartburg at Hope in West Des Moines, and we attend Wartburg music events when they are performing in the Des Moines area. It was so fun to be a host-home for members of the Ritterchor several years ago. This was another way for us to ‘pay it forward’.
We also enjoy watching the Knights as they play athletic events at Simpson or Central. We love to wear our orange and black in Indianola and Pella!
I am a member of the Alumni Board and have thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the board.
HOW DO YOU LIVE OUT THE WARTBURG MISSION: A few years ago I resigned from my accounting position at John Deere and accepted a leadership position at a nonprofit organization. The most compelling reason for making this change was that I desired meaningful and purposeful work. Wartburg prepared me for a life of leadership and service, as a spirited expression of my faith and learning, and I was not passionate about my corporate career. I have found meaningful and purposeful work, where I help lead an organization that serves children and families in my community.
WHY WAS YOUR WARTBURG EXPERIENCE WORTH IT: Wartburg prepared me for my career, and I am still employed in a job related to my major 20 years post-graduation. Wartburg also prepared me for a life of leadership and service within my community.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS: For current business and accounting students: EXCEL. As in the Microsoft Office spreadsheet program. Excel will be a very powerful tool in your professional tool kit.
For all students: Be involved. I met some amazing people through music groups, campus organizations, and campus activities. Spending time in the library is important (I was there A LOT) but being involved in a variety of activities is one reason that Wartburg is worth it.