Wartburg is everything good about a small college

NAME: Kyle Minden       
CLASS YEAR: 2020
HOMETOWN: Tulsa, Oklahoma
MAJORS: Business administration and religion

INVOLVEMENT ON CAMPUS: Orientation staff, supplemental instructor for RE 101, Theta Alpha Kappa, student employee in the religion office

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WARTBURG: I originally chose Wartburg because I thought I wanted to go into ministry in the ELCA Lutheran church. Since then, I’ve decided that is not my calling, but I still love the religion department and the school!

HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON YOUR MAJORS: I find the study of religion and business very fascinating for two different reasons. My religion major allows me to explore what I believe, learn about other people’s faiths, and see how religion impacts our communities. I decided to pick up the business administration major because I love the idea of using business markets and economic principles to solve social problems. I have a wide variety of interests and these two diverse majors allow me to explore everything I’m interested in.  

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION: After graduation, I want to try and find comprehensive, sustainable solutions to our country’s most pressing social problems. Most specifically, I would like to find a nonprofit or government position where I can create programming or develop strategies for these problems.  

Kyle Minden

HOW DID WARTBURG PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR NEXT STEP: Wartburg gave me the tools and opportunities to explore my interests, both for my career and personal life. I was given opportunities to explore my passions and wasn’t chained to a specific reading list or told what I should be learning. The professors catered to my interests, which is great because I have very specific career goals that don’t exactly align with either of my majors.  

DID YOU COMPLETE ANY INTERNSHIPS: I was given the opportunity to serve in two internship roles in my hometown during my time at Wartburg. I first worked as the grants and programs intern at the Ed Darby Foundation, where I got first-hand experience in administering grant funding and leading programming efforts. I also got the opportunity to be a programs intern at the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation.  

DO YOU HAVE ANY MENTORS ON CAMPUS: Dr. Chip Bouzard and Dr. Allan Bernard were both mentors to me on campus. I frequented both of their offices over the last four years to talk about career goals and aspirations, discuss upcoming projects, or to just talk about something I had questions about.  

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WARTBURG MEMORY: Studying abroad with Dr. Riswold in Germany. Spending three weeks with my friends following the path of Martin Luther, immersing ourselves in German culture, and even spending a day at a Rhine Valley winery was truly an unforgettable experience.

WHY IS WARTBURG WORTH IT: May Term is worth it. Whether I was studying abroad or enjoying the weather with friends, May Term has given me my fondest Wartburg memories. Wartburg College is everything that is good about a small college. If you want to go to a small school where you will be met with a close community, receive individualized instruction, and have the ability to become involved on campus, then Wartburg is a great place to be.