Michael Rogers
Graduation year: 2012
Majors: Political science and history
Activities: Black Student Union, Phi Alpha Theta
Post-grad plans: Master’s program in college student personnel at Western Illinois University
Why did you choose Augustana?
I felt so welcomed by all the staff, whether it was my admissions recruiter or volunteers helping at the Visit Days. It’s also because Augustana offered me the most scholarship money.
Are you now where you thought you’d be four years ago?
Not at all. I had no idea that so much maturity and development would take place in four years that have flown by! I literally look back, and I am such a different person now.
Who helped you get to where you are now?
Without a doubt, Dean Mark Anderson has played a tremendous role in my development. Also, Dr. Jane Simonsen and Dr. Steve Warren. In different capacities, these individuals helped me realize my own potential and challenged me to work above and beyond what is required.
What did you learn about yourself in these past four years that surprised you?
Even though you may be considered a quiet or shy person, it doesn’t make you any less of a leader. Oftentimes, we think of leaders as people who are out in the front and very candid. Even though I don’t consider myself a very outspoken person, I have been amazed at how many of my professors and friends have recognized me as a leader.
A peak experience?
Definitely traveling abroad to study in Brazil! I would consider this the zenith of my undergraduate experience because I learned so much about other cultures and myself. I have been back on campus for a couple months now, and I still think about my experience every day! I would recommend foreign study, especially Brazil, to all students.
What will you miss the most about Augustana?
I will miss the close-knit community of Augustana. Now that I will be attending a school with more than quadruple the number of students, it frightens me a bit. I truly believe that Augustana genuinely cares about all their students, and I am not too sure a lot of schools are like that. I will also miss the friendships that I have made, not only at Augustana, but the many connections that I have built through my community involvement while at Augustana.
“Michael Rogers has a quiet wisdom that transcends the classroom. He is a young man who is motivated by his faith to reach out to others. He is also a leader among his peers. In his time at Augustana, he has studied political theory, presented a national paper on American Indians and masculinity, and studied abroad in Brazil. But what impresses me the most about Michael is his commitment to use what he has learned at Augustana to improve the world we inhabit.”