Name: Keith Hutchison
Year: Senior
Major: Engineering
Fun Fact: I live by the phrase “Carpe Diem” (seize the day). I find life to be way too short to regret not doing something, so I find myself saying “Yes” to everything.
Campus Involvement: President of The Madison Project and senior cadet in Air Force ROTC
A majority of students at JMU have probably seen you posting advertisements for various companies and events all over the JMU Facebook page and other social media sites. What is that all about?
I started representing Roaring Lion my sophomore year, which is a start-up energy drink company based in California. I rep-ed for Roaring Lion for 2 years until this past summer when I had the opportunity to apply as a representative for Coca-Cola. It seemed like it would be a fun and exciting opportunity, and they happened to like me as well! So now I am the lead rep for Coke on JMU’s campus.
How did you become so involved as a rep?
Honestly, I just researched it one day and the next thing I knew I got my first rep position after a very short phone interview with Roaring Lion. I heard about rep programs as a sophomore, and thought it would be a cool way to improve my business skills, as well as get free stuff. From what I’ve learned though, it is a lot more than just that. It really teaches you how to work with people and network, which are two things that can benefit any person in any career field. The pay and the free stuff are perks, yes, but it has truly made me into a more well-rounded person and has given me life skills that I can apply to almost any career after college.
How do you balance your time with school, work, ROTC, etc?
That is a great question…I don’t even know! I try to keep a planner, but that usually ends up getting too full to manage, so I set priorities. First is school, second is ROTC, third is family (my sister happens to also go to JMU), fourth is time with friends, and after that comes everything else. Luckily I have been able to manage all of that until now, but it really does come down to what you value, and how you want to spend your time. I decide to spend all of my time (minus a few hours of sleep a night…key word “few”) doing stuff that I’m passionate about.
What have you gained from being so involved at JMU?
I know this sounds extra corny, but I feel like I’ve left my mark at JMU. I feel like I’ve experienced so much of the community here, and while I know I’ve only skimmed the surface of what is offered here, I know I have met some extraordinary people, done some things that I will always remember, and made friendships that will last a lifetime. I love the Purple and Gold, and being so involved at JMU has made me appreciate what that really means even more!
What are your plans after graduation?
I am commissioning into the Air Force on Graduation day, and will be heading to Flight training very shortly thereafter. After that initial training I will owe the military a service commitment of 8 years, and I plan to get my MBA at some point during that time so that when I get out I can pursue my business passion. I’m still unsure if the Air Force is a life-long career for me, so I can’t say for sure if I will retire after 20 years (the usual), but I am keeping my options open as far as that’s concerned! I’m just excited to fly!!!
What will you miss most about JMU?
I will miss the people. I always tell freshmen that they will come out of JMU as one of two things: a southern belle or a southern gentleman! The hospitable community on and off campus paired with the school pride and “nationalism” that is associated with this university only makes you care about people and want to make them feel welcomed in any situation. The door-holding tradition that exists at JMU makes me most sad to leave this place because it really says so much about how we care about each other. I’ve seen students come together in good and bad times, through tragedy and triumph, and it’s hard for me to believe that any other university, or area, will have the same quality of relationship that we have at JMU.