Monday, April 23, 2007
Nathanael Atkinson: Seizing opportunity
 There were few opportunities for involvement Nathanael Atkinson did not take advantage of during his USI career.Atkinson is an exceptional USI student in many ways, including the fact that he hails not from Indiana, Illinois, or Kentucky, but Missouri. A graduate of Winnetonka High School in Kansas City, Atkinson was born in Wichita, Kansas. His aunt, Tabitha Sauer '02, is a USI graduate and encouraged him to tour the campus when he was in the area to attend her wedding. Atkinson liked USI’s student-faculty ratio and affordability, and he wanted to go away from home for his college experience. His resume boasts of involvement in Residence Life, from which he received the Vision Award for his work as a resident assistant; Sigma Pi Fraternity, which he helped found; Model United Nations; Toastmasters International; Economics Finance Club; Activities Programming Board; Student Government Association; Herdes Herd pep club; and Homecoming Court. He also was a member of the University’s first-place accounting team in the statewide Indiana CPA Society 2005 case study competition, and he was awarded the R. Malcolm Koch Memorial Scholarship from the College of Business for 2005-2006. A finalist for the President’s Medal, Atkinson graduated in December with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and economics. The award recognizes commitment to academic excellence and service to the University and the community. He is currently completing the second rotation of a coop with General Electric Plastics in Mount Vernon, Indiana. Inspired by an elective course he took from Dr. Tim Schibik, professor of economics, he hopes to pursue a career in sports management. Schibik’s course, Economics of Sports, allowed Atkinson to meet and pass his resume along to Kurt Humphrey, vice president of finance for the Indianapolis Colts. He had several mentors while at USI, citing Schibik and Dr. Peter Cashel-Cordo, associate professor of economics, among them. “They could be anywhere but obviously picked USI for the right reasons,” Atkinson said. “There are some amazing professors here who are really concerned about students.” While at USI, Atkinson met his girlfriend, Natalie Hardison '06, a USI graduate in nursing who is now employed with St. Mary’s Medical Center. “I guess that’s another reason USI worked out so well for me,” he said. |
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